4 Charged In Death Of Woman Dumped Along Detroit-Area Road

WESTLAND, Mich. (AP) - Authorities say a 44-year-old man fatally beat his 46-year-old female housemate, then got help dumping her battered body along a road in a neighboring Detroit suburb.

The Wayne County prosecutor's office announced charges Thursday against Terrance Johnson of Westland and three other men accused of assisting him.

Prosecutors say Johnson and 30-year-old Randy Batts of Detroit fatally beat Diedra Akins at her Westland home Monday.

Woman's Body, Severely Beaten Found Near Ecorse River

They say 34-year-old transient Michael Bashlor and 23-year-old Joshua Hurston-Herron of Detroit helped dispose of Akins' body in Dearborn Heights on Monday.

Johnson and Batts are charged with first-degree murder. Bashlor and Hurston-Herron are charged with being accessories after the fact.

The men return to court Jan. 29 and have a Feb. 5 probable cause hearing. It's unknown if they have lawyers.