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Elizabeth Conley / AP
Relatives of Abreeya Brown and Ashley Conaway leave the scene where their bodies were found Sunday.
DETROIT -- The bodies of two women found over the weekend in a wooded area in Detroit are those of two best friends reported abducted nearly a month ago, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Wayne County medical examiner's spokeswoman Brooke Blackwell said the bodies of Abreeya Brown and Ashley Conaway were found gagged and bound with duct tape in a shallow grave. Both women had been shot in the head, Blackwell said.
Brown, 18, and Conaway, 21, were abducted Feb. 28 by two armed men outside their home in the nearby enclave of Hamtramck, according to Brown's stepfather, Charles McGinnis. He told police he exchanged gunfire with the captors before they drove away. Relatives said one woman was able to send text messages for a short time from inside the trunk, but that neither had been heard from since.
Police earlier arrested Brandon Cain, 26, and Brian Lee, 24. Both men are scheduled together for a preliminary hearing on Friday on charges of assault with intent to murder.
Family members of the slain women spoke with local media on Monday.
“We should not lose our children, our daughters to such a travesty; we shouldn’t lose our children to evil and rotten men," Latrina Conaway, sister of Ashley Conaway, told the Detroit Free Press. "We’re just going to stand strong. We’re going to walk the judicial system down to the wire. We know justice shall prevail. But for me, this is just the beginning.”
Lois Brown, mother of Abreeya Brown, said she was heartbroken.
"She's in the kingdom of heaven," Brown told the Detroit News. "I am very glad we have the suspects in custody; now we don't have to chase them down. Now I am in mourning."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
My prayes are with the families. I can't imagine the terror these two young ladies felt, and I hope these two guys get the death sentence. All because the young woman wasn't romantically interested. This is just such an evil act.
too many arrogant people in the world who think they can get away with murder (or don't care). knowing it is wrong doesn't seem to be enough.
@Brad78533,
You're a total imbecile.
@FourtwentyLove,
You're trolling in the wrong waters.
Prayers & thoughts are with the family members at this time.
Reading stories like this makes me realize that the problems in my life are small. I am thankful that the suspects are in custody and so very heartbroken that two young women with all of their lives ahead of them had to be lost to their loved ones in such a horrible and terrifying fashion. My heart goes out to those left to fight for justice and pick up the pieces; remember there are so many of us in this world that care and we are with you in spirit.