MSP takes over Musk Hts murder case

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) - The unsolved murder of a Muskegon Heights restaurant owner is now in the hands of the Michigan State Police.

The victim's daughter and grand-daughter found 72-year-old Alvaro Loera dead in his home in April. The owner of the well-known Flamingo II restaurant had been beaten and stabbed to death.

Assistant Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson confirmed Thursday that the Muskegon Heights Police Department recently turned the investigation over to the Michigan State Police.

Just after the murder, police sources said there was some evidence being processed through a crime lab and confirmed that one possible path for the probe was related to Loera's brush with the law in 2010 when his home was raided and he told police he'd been selling pills.

Loera was in ill health at the time of his murder. His family said he had a lung disease and used an oxygen tank.

The assistant prosecutor said the new investigation by the state police has not yet resulted in any new search warrants, requests for which would have come through his office.

Hilson said that he does not know why Muskegon Heights police turned the case over to MSP. Efforts by 24 Hour News 8 to contact the Muskegon Heights police chief were unsuccessful Thursday afternoon.