Brake charged in quadruple murders

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) -- -  

Map of unsolved crimes where Troy Brake worked

It's taken them six weeks to build their case. And now, Ottawa County prosecutors think they have enough evidence to send Troy Brake to prison for the killing of four people in their Wright Township home in late September.

Troy Brake had little to say during his arraignment. Brake, 31, was charged Wednesday morning in the murders of Shar Zimmer, her sons Jeremy and Tyler, and Jeremy's girlfriend Katherine Brown.

Brake is charged with seven crimes, four counts of open murder and three counts of using a firearm to commit a felony.

24 News 8 obtained court documents that outline much of the evidence used to charge Brake. They reveal previously unreleased details.

Shar Zimmer's body was found on the man floor, Tyler's in the basement. Jeremy and Catherine were found on the second floor.

It wasn't until Jeremy's body was being removed from the house that investigators found a gunshot wound to his head. They knew then they were looking a a quadruple homicide.

Shar and Tyler had also been shot. Katherine was beaten to death. Then the house was set on fire.

The case took a turn in detectives' favor in mid-October.

Grand Rapids police arrested Brake on unrelated charges. He allegedly raped and beat a prostitute on October 16, and shot a man in early September.

Brake had a handgun on him similar to one described in a flier Ottawa County detectives sent out to area police agencies, detailing some of their evidence.

That was enough to get a search warrant of Brake's Newaygo County home. During the search another gun belonging to Brake was found.

That gun, detectives say, is the same gun used in the Wright Township murders.

They were able to connect it to the murders through bullets, cartridges and a mouse.

When asked by detectives about spent cartridges from the .40 caliber Glock handgun found in the pole barn of his home, Brake told detectives he tried to shoot a mouse.

Those spent cartridges matched ones found in the Zimmer home.

Brake talked to Ottawa detectives three times about the case, according to the court file. But he hasn't told them much.

According to the affidavit, Brake denies being at the Zimmer residence on the night of the fire. But he's refused to tell detectives where he was that evening.

Lt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department said the case remains open. But there's no evidence right now suggesting other suspects are out there.

24 Hour News 8 went to Brake's father's home in Hesperia and to Brake's home in Grant. No one answered, and Brake's father hung up when contacted by phone.

Bob Zimmer, the father of Jeremy and Tyler Zimmer, told 24 Hour News 8 "it's a mystery" why Brake may have murdered his sons and wife.

Brake once lived next door to the Zimmers in Wright Township, but Bob Zimmer said he doesn't believe Brake kept in touch since he moved away when he was 12.

Matt and Heather Trout now live in the home Brake grew up in.

"They [the Zimmers and Brown] didn't deserve this. They were your average rural family, went to church, knew everybody, willing to help out people. Just nice people in general," Matt Trout told 24 Hour News 8.

Investigators say they do not know why Brake ended up at the Zimmer house the night of the murders, or what may have motivated him to allegedly kill the Zimmers and Brown.

"I hope I find out why he did this before I die," said Bob Zimmer, who for several years has been undergoing dialysis for kidney failure. "If they had put a Bible in front of me, I would have swore he would not have done this."

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the Zimmer family said they are "relieved to learn that there is a suspect in custody and solid evidence linking him to this horrible tragedy.

"We are pleased to be closer to some answers and are confident in the detectives that are handling our case.

"This horrific event has affected an entire community and we are thankful to our family, friends, and neighbors for their love and support. We pray to God for the strength to get through the months to come."