They were a young couple with their whole lives in front of them. Instead they were gunned down, leaving their families desperate for answers.
It’s been nearly 5 years since Rosemary Chyz and Anthony Velez were last seen alive. Now police are uncovering new details in this murder mystery that they’re hoping will prompt someone to come forward.
“How dare you? That was my child,” said Lisa Puma. Puma will never give up fighting for her son.
“I’m not going to let this get forgotten because people want to go out there and just kill other people for no reason,” said Puma.
Puma still doesn’t have the answers she desperately needs: Who killed her son Tony Velez – and his girlfriend Rosemary Chyz? And why?
“He had a smile that just lit up a room,” said Puma.
Tony was a bright, fun-loving 22-year-old from Sterling Heights. He loved soccer, and his nickname was “Jabber Jaws” because he loved to talk.
Nineteen-year-old Rosemary was from Clinton Township. She had recently graduated from Chippewa Valley High School and was taking classes at Macomb Community College.
“She was a sweet girl,” said Puma.
Detectives say on October 24, 2011, Tony and Rosemary drove to Detroit’s east side to sell some electronics, which Tony often listed on Craigslist.
“The last time his friends talked to him was about 10:30 pm and he was at Mack and Alter. He was fine, he was on the phone,” said Puma.
Around 1:00 am, Tony’s grey Chevy Impala was found – on fire – on Lambert Street, not far from the old Packard plant.
But Rosemary and Tony were not found till later the next day. Their bodies were discovered about a mile away in a field near Giardin and Hentz roads. Police say Tony had been tied up, and both had been shot several times.
“An hour and a half to jump him, beat him, pistol whip him; tie him up and put him in his trunk to take him to a field to shoot him. What animal does that,” asked Puma.
“We believe there were multiple suspects,” Detroit Police Detective Ryan Mason told the 7 Investigators.
Detective Mason says they don’t know who Tony was planning to meet that night, but someone did see a black SUV in the area where the bodies were found.
“We are still investigating but we do have a person of interest we would like to talk to as a possible witness,” said Det. Mason. Mason won’t say who that person is, but they do want you to call them if you saw anything on that October night back in 2011.
“It takes just being vigilant. Just go back in your mind and say hey – was I driving over in that area? Did I see a black SUV? Did I see something? You may not think it’s important, but it’s those small pieces to the puzzle that help us,” said Det. Mason.
“Imagine being in my shoes, and that being your baby. And people knew what happened to your child, and wouldn’t come forward or say anything to get these people off the street,” said Puma.
Lisa Puma won’t rest until her son’s killers are caught.
“It will never be over for me. It will give me some kind of closure, but I will still never have a whole heart,” said Puma.
There is a $10,000 reward in this case. If you know anything please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or Detroit Police Homicide at 313-596-2200.
If you have a story for Heather, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com or call 248-827-4473.
