In a quiet Warren, Michigan neighborhood, a tragic scene unfolded on September 1, 2017, leading to the discovery of 67-year-old Steven Collins and his 66-year-old wife, Cynthia Collins, who had been fatally shot in their home on Panama Avenue. The couple, described as a white male and female, were found by police after a concerned neighbor noticed their dog running loose and the front door ajar.
The investigation quickly centered on a family member, the couple's 37-year-old nephew,
Joseph Borowiak. Borowiak, who had reportedly been raised by the Collinses, was identified as a person of interest. Chilling Facebook posts made by Borowiak prior to the incident, including a 'family hitlist' that named his aunt and uncle, pointed to a premeditated act. Neighbors indicated that the couple had been trying to help their nephew, who reportedly struggled with mental health issues.
Within hours of the discovery, Borowiak was apprehended by Detroit Police at a Buddy's Pizza, after a citizen recognized him from a news article. Evidence, including blood splatter on his clothing, linked him to the scene. Borowiak, who had a prior criminal record, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
In July 2018, Joseph Borowiak was convicted of the murders of his aunt and uncle. While the jury acknowledged his mental illness, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The motive for the brutal slayings was never fully clarified, leaving a devastating mark on a family torn apart by violence.
