The neighbor of a 37-year-old man accused of murdering members of his family last week said the suspect "would talk like he was God" prior to the violent crime. Joseph Borowiak, a resident of Warren, Michigan, was arrested on suspicion of killing Cynthia Collins, 66, and Stephen Collins, 67. Police found the victims, who reportedly raised the nephew now accused of their murder, inside their home on Friday.
Initial reports indicated the couple had been fatally shot, though police announced in a revised statement that they were bludgeoned. Authorities believe Stephen Collins was asleep at the time of the attack and was killed before Cynthia Collins.
"It appears the wife heard a noise and she was actually on the floor, face down in a separate bedroom," said Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer.
Several hours after the murder, Borowiak was spotted at a local pizzeria with blood spatter on his shirt and glasses. As WJBK reported, he has since been arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder and could face life in prison if convicted.
Reports indicate he has previously faced unrelated criminal charges including felony assault and resisting police. His criminal history also reportedly includes multiple convictions for drug possession.
'What is the explanation?'
Neighbors, including Alisha Goolsby, described Borowiak as mentally unstable.
"He would talk like he was God," she recalled.
"He believed he was God."
Nevertheless, police say they do not have a clear motive for the violent crime.
"What is the explanation?" Dwyer asked. "Only the person who committed the homicide can answer that. Why would you murder people that actually raised you, cared about you, supported you, helped you?"
The commissioner described the victims as concerned family members who "did as much as they could" for their nephew.
"Why he turned on them as he did is unknown to us," Dwyer said. "I'm not sure what the motive was."
Police discover murder suspect's 'hit-list'
According to police, Borowiak publicly revealed other potential victims in the form of a list he posted, along with a picture of himself, on a social media account.
Authorities confirmed they were "able to identify some of the relatives" potentially being targeted and placed them in protective custody.
The judge presiding over Borowiak's arraignment denied bond in the case on the basis that he posed a serious risk to the community. His next court date is set for Sept. 14.
