CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers CrimeDec 15, 2025
Men Receive Life Sentences in Home Invasion Murder of Jeweler
Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.
A judge in Oakland County, Michigan, sentenced Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of jeweler Hussein “Sam” Murray, who owned Gold and Glitter in Hamtramck, Michigan.
Detroit—The two men found guilty in the October 2024 home invasion murder of a 72-year-old jeweler in suburban Detroit were sentenced last week to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Yasmine Poles handed down the sentences to 39-year-old Carlos Jose Hernandez and 40-year-old Joshua Zuazo, both of Dearborn, Michigan.
According to prosecutors, on Oct. 11, 2024, Hernandez and Zuazo posed as employees of local energy company DTE to convince jeweler Hussein “Sam” Murray to let them into the Rochester Hills home he shared with his wife of 54 years, Linda Murray.
They killed Sam in the basement after telling them they needed to go down there to check for a gas leak.
According to Linda’s testimony during trial, when Hernandez came up from the basement, he started asking her where the safe and the jewelry were, neither of which they kept in the house.
Ultimately, all the two defendants stole from the Murray’s home were costume jewelry, cash, Linda’s iPhone, and the keys to her SUV.
“Hernandez and Zuazo will spend their remaining days behind bars for their reprehensible actions,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a statement shared with National Jeweler.
“Sam Murray was beloved by friends and family. Linda Murray continues to suffer from the trauma of that horrible day. While we can never repair the damage done that day, I hope this sentence provides the Murray family with a measure of justice.”
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Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Yasmine Poles handed down the sentences to 39-year-old Carlos Jose Hernandez and 40-year-old Joshua Zuazo, both of Dearborn, Michigan.
According to prosecutors, on Oct. 11, 2024, Hernandez and Zuazo posed as employees of local energy company DTE to convince jeweler Hussein “Sam” Murray to let them into the Rochester Hills home he shared with his wife of 54 years, Linda Murray.
They killed Sam in the basement after telling them they needed to go down there to check for a gas leak.
According to Linda’s testimony during trial, when Hernandez came up from the basement, he started asking her where the safe and the jewelry were, neither of which they kept in the house.
Ultimately, all the two defendants stole from the Murray’s home were costume jewelry, cash, Linda’s iPhone, and the keys to her SUV.
“Hernandez and Zuazo will spend their remaining days behind bars for their reprehensible actions,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a statement shared with National Jeweler.
“Sam Murray was beloved by friends and family. Linda Murray continues to suffer from the trauma of that horrible day. While we can never repair the damage done that day, I hope this sentence provides the Murray family with a measure of justice.”
During the sentencing hearing on Dec. 9, which can be seen in its entirety here, Judge Poles remarked on the defendants’ arrogance and greed.
She called their actions cowardly and “absolutely pathetic.”
“None of us know exactly what happened the basement … but I am certain that Mr. Murray fought you with the courage of a man who spent his life protecting his home and his family,” the judge said.
“And I hope whatever those last words he said to you, or whatever that last moment that he looked at you, haunts you for the rest of your life.”
Sam was the owner of Gold and Glitter, a jewelry and pawn shop in Hamtramck, Michigan.
His three sons spoke at the sentencing, describing their father as a kind, warm, and brave man who worked hard to provide for his family.
“He was the rock that our entire family could depend on. He never let anyone down,” one of his sons said.
“He was just in the time when he was starting to enjoy his life and plan on retirement, just now starting to go on vacations with his grandkids but that tragically ended.”
Hernandez and Zuazo were convicted by two separate juries earlier this fall.
In addition to felony murder, they were found guilty of two counts each of unlawful imprisonment and pled guilty to the charge that they were habitual offenders, meaning they had prior felony convictions.
Poles sentenced them to an additional 19 to 80 years behind bars on the unlawful imprisonment charges.
Hernandez and Zuazo declined to address the court during last week’s sentencing hearing, and both also plan to appeal their convictions, their attorneys said in court.
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