The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is reaching out to the public for help in a case that has gone cold over the past 17 years. The unsolved homicides of two men from Genesee County, Terry Lee Holbin, 51, and Ronnie Ralph Tripp, 55, are back in the spotlight as authorities seek new leads that could help solve the mystery of their deaths. ABC12 reported that the Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit is urging anyone with potentially helpful information to come forward.
According to the sheriff's office, the decomposed bodies of the two men were discovered under trees along the northbound side of I-75, just south of the M-15 exit in Independence Township, in April 2008. Both had been shot in the head with a small-caliber firearm, a determination made necessary due to the condition of the bodies. The victims, who were retired and shared a home in Flint Township, were last seen alive in October 2006 and were reportedly estranged from their families. WXYZ added that Holbin's Chevrolet pickup truck was found burned, providing little evidence for the ongoing investigation.
Detective Sgt. Matt Peschke was quoted by several sources pressing the importance of community assistance. "There have been extensive investigations over the years, the circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unresolved," he told WXYZ in a statement. "The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have information, no matter how small, to come forward. This case has remained open, and any new leads could be crucial in bringing closure to this mystery." It is confirmed that both men were retired and lived together in Flint Township, and no one has been ruled out as a suspect in this ongoing investigation.
As part of their efforts to encourage tips from the public, Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Those with information can reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously by dialing 1-800-SPEAK-UP, as per a report by WNEM.
