Neighbor charged with murder of former Detroit police officer found decomposing in park

DETROIT (FOX 2) – A Detroit man has been charged with killing his neighbor, a former police officer, and then dumping his body in a park.

Erik Davis, 30, was accused of killing 41-year-old Stefon Hodo two years ago and then stealing his car and gun before shooting two other people.

According to the Wayne County District Attorney's Office, Davis killed Hodo during an argument and then broke into his home to steal his car and gun. A few days later, the prosecutor said, Davis drove to another location and shot a 39-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man.

Hodo's remains were found two weeks later, on July 14, 2022.

Davis was originally arrested two years ago, in July 2022, shortly after Hodo's death.

Hodo was missing at the time, and authorities said Davis drove Hodo's car up to a home on Ferguson Road near the Southfield Freeway in Detroit on June 30, 2022, and fired multiple shots at the home around 11:15 a.m. that morning. He returned a few hours later and exchanged gunfire with a man inside the home.

The victim, in his 40s, was shot in the finger, police said. He was taken to a nearby hospital and is in stable condition. There were eight people in the home at the time of the shooting – five adults and three children.

Detroit police arrested the suspect that evening in the area of ​​W. Chicago and Schaefer Highway after a foot chase. He was taken into custody following tips from the public, police said.

Authorities have not released a motive for the shootings or said whether they are connected to Hodo.

Until this weekend, Davis had not been identified as a suspect in Hodo's murder.