The article below appeared in a small hometown paper that is distributed weekly (Friday) to businesses, restaurants, etc. in Troy. Troy-Somerset Gazette isn't known for good journalism and is primarly local advertising, school news, police beat, etc. The link would not work on this site, so I typed the article with some consolidation of paragraphs and omitting the juvenile's name even though it appears in other media sources. The T-SG edition is dated October 1, 2012. Just Google the name of the paper to see the online version if you're interested.
Attorney Has Trio of Ideas In Defense of Homicide:
Defense Takes a Hard Look at Mikes Family
Defense Attorney Christopher Andreoff set the stage for several possible lines of defense for Patrick Mikes, Jr., charged in the late July death of his father Patrick Mikes, Sr. It was all part of the preliminary hearing last week in front of 52-4 District Judge William Bolle.
Perhaps the son, Patrick, has some mental problems, the attorney would suggest. He asked (younger brother) if his brother had told him of having hallucinations and hearing voices? Maybe once, several years ago, the younger brother said. And did he know that when a senior in high school Patrick had missed 40 days of school? (Younger brother) knew Patrick had missed some school, but not how much or why. Andreoff also would call the defendant "reclusive and maybe depressed" in the days leading up to the father's death.
Perhaps this was simply a case of self-defense. Had (younger brother) noticed any bruises, or even a bite mark on Patrick's arm that weekend? Again the brother said that he had not noticed any injuries to his brother.
Nor had Oakland County Medical Examiner Lyubisa Dragovic. But then, police had only asked him to look at pictures of the evidence ccollected from teh home during the early part of the investigation. There was no way for Dragovic to know who had provoked any fight between father and son. Andreoff wanted to know if the wounds to Mikes Sr.'s skull could have been caused when the victim hit a wall, concrete or a sports machine? "Highly unlikely," Dragovic said, but was willing to add, "anything is possible." Regardless, this is still a homicide and up to the court to decide the reason, the medical examiner said.
And then there's the police search. Defense Attorney Robert Harrison would call Troy Police Sgt. Josh Jones to the stand and question his handling of the search of the Mikes' home. It was the defendanct who finally called police on Sunday morning to report their missing father. (Younger brother) said they waited 24 hours because Patrick said a friend had been told that's how long you have to wait before reporting a missing person. (Younger brother) also testified that his brother had gone out on Saturday to look for their father. (Younger brother) said he stayed home and had called several local hospitals to see if his father was there.
Sgt. Jones noted that when he arrived on Sunday the boys seemed "void of emotion" and talked "very matter of factly about the whole situation." In addition when he entered the home, he detected what he called an "older person odor" in the house. "Did you ask if they should have an adult present?" Harrison asked. (Patrick, Jr. is an adult.) Did you ask for permission to look around the house? Sgt. Jones said he asked to look around and both boys said "yes."
Do you carry a consident form for a search? Harrison wanted to know, adding that such a form would say you don't have to consent to a search and that if you do, evidence found can be used against you. Jones said he does not have one in the police car, did not get the form and that he was worried this might be a suicide. In addition, he reminded the court that the boys were the ones who called police to come to their home to find their missing father.
It was during a look around the basement that the police spotted bags of clothing still drenched in what looked like blood inside and out. Even later when Patrick objected to police looking the house without hime, the reason he gave police was because the home contained valuable antiques. And, when police said he could come back in the home, Patrick agreed to let the search continue.
Well, Judge Bolle will have decide if this case moves up to Circuit Court. But Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Ken Frazee had presented evidence, too. The medical examiner had testified that from the amount of blood on the clothers, he didn't believe the victime could have left the basement under his own volition.
Was he in good health? Yes, and his mood was fine, (younger brother) noted. In fact, they had talked about going to Holland for the weekend. Why did he believe his father had come home on Friday night? Becuase his briefcase had appeared on the kitchen counter. Did father and his older brother get along? Not so well. Why? Money. It seemed they had actually been a little quieter this summer.
It seems that in the Mikes' household the father would provide a home, a private school education, food in the frig, a car and an American Express card to buy gas, but not spending money. Could this have been the reason for a fight between father and son? perhaps. Mikes, Sr. was a contract employee due to lose his job at the end of July. It also seems Patrick, jr. had been up north and used his brother's American Express card (his had broken) for more than gas. Dad had already canceled the card.
And when the body was found on August 10, after being in a Montrose Township cornfield for two weeks of rain and heat, he could still examine the skull. It had been hit four times with a blunt force instrument, like a pipe or baseball bat. Dragovic said those injuries were "inductive that a crime was trying to be conducted." He also pointed out that the victim's body had on bicycle shorts, but the straps were not over his shoulders as one would expect, but tucked in the back of the shorts.
Mikes, Sr.'s missing bicycle had also been found hear his body. The body, the medical examiner added, had no injuries below the neck. Frazee would also question (younger brother) about family dynamics. When was the last time he'd actually seen his father? At Thursday night dinner, (younger brother) said.
