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Bob Bashara Colleague: 'I've Got No Part In This'

GROSSE POINTE PARK (WWJ) - A longtime family friend is speaking out after he distributed fliers that offered a hefty reward for tips leading to Jane Bashara's killer.

Jim McCuish, Bob Bashara's former business partner, posted the papers in the neighborhood where the 56-year-old woman's body was found, saying he thought an offer of $10,000 would prompt a witness to talk.

Some have questioned McCuish motives in offering the cash, but, talking to WWJ Newsradio 950's Mike Campbell Tuesday, McCuish insisted he was simply trying to help his friend.

"I've got no part in this at all.  Jane Bashara is the focus of all this," said McCush.

"It's just unbelievable that this has happened in this community. I mean, they're both well-liked.  They're both well-known. Their kids are great kids, and let's get that story out there. It's a terrible thing that has happened," he said.

Jane Bashara Murdered Grosse Pointe Park Marketing Executive
Jane Bashara (Facebook photo)

McCuish posted the reward fliers last week, shortly after Jane Bashara was found strangled in her car, near Seven Mile Road and Hoover, in Detroit.

McCuish said he now realizes that fliers may not have been the best idea, but he is not the "accomplice" that has been alluded to in media reports.

He also came to his friend's defense, calling Bob Bashara "a good guy."

"I don't know what happened. There's rumors going around Grosse Pointe about women, men ... in different lives. I don't know if any of it's true," McCuish said.

McCuish said he has spoken with Bob Bashara once since his wife's death, offering to take care of any of Bashara's rental properties.

Meantime, police have reportedly been talking to a "person of interest," but the Wayne County Prosecutor's office issued a statement saying they have not received a warrant request in the case.

Grosse Pointe Park Police Chief David had no comment about reports that an unnamed person has presented investigators with new information or about reports that Bob Bashara failed a lie detector test. Hiller said that there would be no new statement released on Tuesday. (More in this here).

RELATED: Hundreds Say Goodbye To Jane Bashara

Stay with WWJ and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.

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