Warren Man Accused Of Hiding Dead Girlfriend In Barrel Declared Competent For Trial
WARREN (WWJ/AP) - A Warren man accused of killing his girlfriend and concealing her body in a plastic drum has been ruled mentally fit to stand trial.
Scott Wobbe's court hearings were suspended in October while authorities evaluated his competence. On Tuesday, Warren District Judge Michael Chupa found the 37-year-old fit for trial.
Theresa DeKeyzer, 22, hadn't been seen for much of the summer until she was found dead in September, her decomposed body entombed in cement inside a 55-gallon drum that was bolted to the floor of a utility trailer at a Plymouth Township storage facility.
Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office spokesperson Mary Mazur said obvious measures were taken to cover up evidence in DeKeyzer's death. It took a team more than four hours to free the remains from the drum.
DeKeyzer's family members believe she was last seen alive after she was dropped off by Wobbe early June 16 about four blocks from her home near 9 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.
Police in Warren interviewed Wobbe twice and searched his home with cadaver dogs, but reportedly found no physical evidence to show that he was involved in DeKeyzer's disappearance.
The day before DeKeyzer went missing, she was apparently involved in a physical altercation with Wobbe, who has a lengthy criminal history that includes assault convictions. When DeKeyzer refused to get out of his car, he reportedly dragged her out by her shirt. She started hitting him with her fists, and he allegedly punched her back in the face. The fight ended when neighbors intervened and Wobbe, who was reportedly drunk, fled the scene.
Reports say DeKeyzer was checked out by police at the scene, and said she would file a complaint in the morning.
About six hours after the fight, DeKeyzer walked to a gas station for cigarettes. Wobbe told police he picked DeKeyzer up from the gas station that night, and they went back to his house and made up, the Detroit News reported. The next day, around 6 a.m., Wobbe allegedly dropped DeKeyzer off near her home. She hasn't been seen since.
Authorities said the last phone call DeKeyzer made was at 8:27 a.m. June 16 from the area of 8 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway, along the Warren-Detroit border.
Wobbe is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and mutilation of a dead body. He faces life in prison if convicted as charged.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Feb. 20.
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