Michigan man kills neighbor and sexually abuses victim's wife and daughter

A Michigan man has been charged with stabbing a neighbor in his driveway and then sexually abusing his wife and daughter.

Timothy Ernest Legard, 50, was charged with premeditated murder, kidnapping, first- and second-degree sexual abuse, sexual assault with intent to penetrate and aggravated assault, WXYZ reported.

According to the Oakland County District Attorney's Office, Legard, of Pontiac, went to a neighbor's home on Ypsilanti Avenue in Pontiac around 6 a.m. Wednesday. Legard allegedly met the neighbor outside the home, approached the man, then stabbed him in his driveway. He then entered the home where the man's wife and daughter were getting ready for school and then sexually assaulted them.

Officials say the man's wife and daughter were able to escape and called 911 at a neighbor's house. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim dead in the driveway with a stab wound to the chest. Officers with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office found Legard wandering nearby and arrested him.

“This was an absolutely brutal and cruel attack on a family,” Oakland County District Attorney Karen McDonald said in a statement. “First-degree murder, first-degree sexual abuse and kidnapping are crimes punishable by life imprisonment, and they are the most serious charges my office has brought. We will vigorously fight for justice for this family and protect the community from violent offenders.”

He remains in the Oakland County Jail. If convicted of murder, sexual assault or kidnapping, Legard faces life in prison. He is scheduled to go to trial this weekend.

A family friend has since set up a GoFundMe page to help the victim's family with funeral expenses. The Oakland Press identified the murder victim as 41-year-old William John Allison.