Highland Township (WWJ)- A Highland Township man has been indicted for the brutal killing of his mother.  The Oakland County Prosecutor’s office said it is the first indictment from a Citizen’s Grand Jury that is reviewing over 90 unsolved homicides.

A statement from the Prosecutor’s office says 21-year old Jeffrey Pyne faces first degree murder charges in the death of his mother, 51-year old Ruth Pyne.  Investigators say she had been beaten and stabbed 16 times in the neck.  Her body was found by her young daughter in the garage of their Burwood Court home last May.

Prosecutor  Jessica Cooper says the Grand Jury received testimony from family, friends and co-workers “which produced evidence linking Jeffrey Pyne to the murder.

The Grand Jury is an invaluable investigative body, Cooper said.  It has the power to subpoena potential witnesses during a criminal investigation and compel them to give information.  Reluctance and refusal of witnesses to come forward with information is one of the biggest impediments to crime solving.”

Jeffrey Pyne was arraigned Wednesday morning before Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Martha D. Anderson and is being held without bond at the Oakland County jail.