The search for a kidnapped Detroit nurse ended with the grim discovery of her body in her own car, and her ex-boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday afternoon.
Patrice Wilson, 29, a nurse at Detroit Medical Center, was abducted Saturday morning after finishing her overnight shift in the hospital’s parking lot, Detroit Police Chief James E. White said at a news conference Monday afternoon.
Wilson’s body was discovered inside her car in a Detroit suburb on Sunday afternoon, according to White.
White stated that after several search warrants were executed over the weekend, the suspect, Jamere Miller, 36, “feeling the pressure of this investigation,” negotiated his surrender through his lawyer. Wilson was arrested at the Detroit Detention Center on Sunday afternoon, according to him.
“It’s a tragedy that someone like Ms. Wilson would be taken from this world so young and in such a tragic way,” White said. “She was young, with her entire life ahead of her.” As a nurse, she was dedicated to serving and assisting others while putting others first. Ms. Wilson has been described as ‘cherished’ by her family, friends, and coworkers.”
He said Wilson was the mother of a young child.
“For her to have her life taken away from her just before Mother’s Day is absolutely heartbreaking,” White said.
Wilson was getting into her black 2020 Lincoln Nautilus SUV around 7:40 a.m. Saturday after finishing her overnight shift at Detroit Medical Center when she was ambushed, according to White, who approached her vehicle wearing a blonde or red wig to disguise himself.
Miller allegedly approached Wilson’s vehicle as she was getting into the driver’s side, forced her into the passenger seat and fled with her inside, police said.
The abduction was initially reported to the Wayne State University Police Department, which contacted the Detroit Police Department, according to White. Police, including his department’s organized crime unit, homicide unit, and major crimes unit, were immediately activated to search for Wilson, according to White.
Police officials said Wilson’s body was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds Sunday afternoon inside her SUV at an apartment complex in Novi, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit.
West stated that the investigation is still ongoing and that detectives were finalizing their report to be turned over to the Wayne County Prosecutor for review and decision on what charges to file against Miller. Miller, according to West, has a “significant” criminal history, including arrests for domestic violence.
Wilson and Miller had previously dated and had recently broken up, according to West.
“She appears to have done everything correctly.” She left the relationship, and the tragic outcome was his violence and persistence in keeping her in the relationship,” West said. “Unfortunately, these types of offenders don’t take no for an answer, and more needs to be done to protect our victims.”
Wilson’s mother, Roslind Livingston, told Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ that her daughter was abducted while talking on her cellphone.
“They were talking to Patrice on the phone and they heard her screaming,” said Livingston, adding that she was told by the person Wilson was speaking to that her daughter’s phone suddenly went dead.