A Southfield man has recently been convicted of second-degree murder in a disturbing case involving the death of a 77-year-old man in 2018. Reginald William Ramsey, aged 53, was found guilty of the murder of Thomas Ellis after a break-in went violent. The Attorney General's office stated that Ramsey had been searching for his wife, who was a relative of Ellis, when he forcefully entered Ellis' home in Detroit, leading to a fatal altercation.

The conviction comes after a lengthy process and extensive forensic investigation to identify the victim. After the murder, Ramsey removed Ellis from the home and set his body on fire in a nearby alley, complicating the process of identification. According to The Detroit News, it took an anthropologist and forensic dentist to determine the characteristics and confirm the identity of the deceased. Wayne County jury's verdict was delivered last Friday.

Regarding the verdict, Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed her gratitude towards the jury and the prosecutors for their service, remarking, "While I know nothing can bring back Mr. Ellis, whose life was tragically lost, I hope the verdict offers a sense of closure for his loved ones", as stated by WWJ Newsradio.

The jury's decision has been long-awaited, and the sentence is now scheduled for July 10. Ramsey faces the possibility of life in prison, which is a sobering consequence for the harrowing crime committed over four years ago. As detailed by ClickOnDetroit, the body of Ellis was discovered days after the murder, and the experts were crucial in providing the necessary evidence for prosecution. Ramsey was not charged until more than a year after the murder had taken place, adding to the complexity and length of the legal proceedings surrounding this case.