In the pre-dawn hours of April 7, 2019, the quiet of a Novi, Michigan mobile home community was shattered by a brutal act of violence that claimed the life of 21-year-old Tia Lanae Joe. An unknown assailant forced entry into her residence on Rousseau Drive and opened fire, striking the young mother multiple times. Tragically, her infant son, Braxton, who was just six months old at the time, was also wounded in the attack but ultimately survived his injuries.
Tia's mother, Trina Bennett,
was in the home at the time and was awakened by the sound of her grandson's cries and a smoke detector. She discovered her daughter's body in her bedroom. The perpetrator had cut the power to the residence before carrying out the fatal assault. Despite the immediate response from the Novi Police Department, the suspect had already fled the scene. The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office later ruled Tia's death a homicide.
In the years that have followed, the investigation into Tia Joe's murder has continued, but no arrests have been made, leaving the case unsolved. It has been reported that investigators believe the shooting may have been a targeted killing, a 'hired hit,' and that while Tia may not have known her killer, she likely knew the person who orchestrated the act. Her family continues to seek justice, and Crime Stoppers of Michigan has offered a reward for information leading to an arrest. The case remains an open and active investigation, a painful cold case for a family and community still searching for answers.
