Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson announced today that the weapon used in the December 30, 2020 murder of Ricky Bailey was found in Chicago and forensically confirmed by state police.
The first update on the case since the sheriff’s office announced the need for tips and an award of $9,100 last December, Sheriff Hanson reports that, with the investigation continuing and at least 10 other law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels assisting, information was received in early 2023 that the Chicago Illinois Police Department was in possession of a handgun possibly matching the murder weapon.
The gun had been confiscated by the department for gun violation related reasons. After many weeks and several formalities to retrieve the gun from Chicago, it was eventually picked up by Huron County authorities and taken to the MSP Crime Lab. Ballistic tests there confirmed that this was indeed the murder weapon.
An interview with the gun’s owner, a south Huron County resident who had purchased the gun in-county, saw the owner claiming to have sold the weapon, further claiming that he didn’t remember who had bought it. However, no record of any transaction could be produced.
Police say that officers responding to a Rapson Road home on December 30, 2020, found Bailey on the floor with two gunshot wounds. His two sons, ages 11 and 20 at the time, were also in the house, with the youngest son telling police that he, his brother and Bailey were in different rooms. He heard a door opening and went to tell his father, instead finding Bailey already on the floor, shot but still alive as two intruders demanded money from him.
According to a past press release, Sheriff Hanson said that, “The victim was then further physically assaulted by one of the assailants while the youngest son attempted to lock himself in a bathroom,” a move undone by one of the intruders kicking in the door, taking the boy to another room, and telling him to lie on the floor. It’s unclear if the intruders were aware of the 20-year-old son, who hid in another room and waited until they left to call police.
Bailey was taken to McLaren Thumb Region Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The sons were not harmed in the attack and described the two intruders as wearing all black ski masks, leather jackets, pants and gloves. While officials are unsure how the intruders arrived and left the scene, they theorized that Bailey’s home was targeted either because his family had only just recently moved into the home, or the intruders targeted the home due to its former occupants.
Still, the new discovery has generated other leads, leading to further interviews and search warrants. As the investigation continues, Sheriff Hanson is once again asking for community help. A reward of now $9,500 has been pledged by family and friends of Bailey to anyone with information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Numerous tips and beliefs have continued to come in since the homicide happened, but law enforcement say they’ve received nothing solid as of yet. Anyone with information is asked to call the Huron County Sheriff’s Office during regular business hours at 989-269-6500, or Huron Central dispatch at 989-269-6421 anytime. Confidential callers can use the confidential TIPS line at 989-269-2861. Information can also be sent via email to Detective Ford at fordd@co.huron.mi.us.
Due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, officials are unable to share more information at this time.
