Share and Follow
Right inset: Lance Clowney II (Wayne County Sheriff’s Office). Left inset: Police and crime scene investigators at the Detroit home where three men were found dead in the basement (WXYZ/YouTube). Background: The 3100 block of South Edsel Street in Detroit, where the Detroit home that had the bodies inside is located (WJBK/YouTube).
In a chilling case from Detroit, the bodies of three men, all in their 60s, were discovered in a basement after suffering what authorities describe as a “brutal assault.” Investigators have tied the tragic deaths to a suspect known for a hammer attack, who was apprehended with three cell phones following an assault close to the crime scene, prosecutors reveal.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Lance Clowney II, reportedly attacked someone near where the three men were found. Although his exact connection to their deaths remains unclear, local Fox affiliate WJBK reports that prosecutors mentioned these links during Clowney’s court appearance.
According to court documents, Clowney currently faces charges of assault with the intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. However, he has not yet been formally charged in connection with the triple homicide.
During a hearing, Clowney was detained without bail after prosecutors argued that he poses a significant risk to public safety, as reported by WJBK.
Clowney’s criminal history is extensive, with previous felony convictions for armed robbery, carjacking, illegal firearm possession, and eluding police. He was released from prison in January 2025 after serving a sentence of five to 15 years for carjacking and armed robbery. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to assault and battery, receiving a 40-day jail sentence, which was reduced by time already served.
“Due to the assaultive nature, we believe the defendant is connected to not only this assault with the complaining witness in this matter, but the connection to three decedents in the basement,” a prosecutor said last week during Clowney’s arraignment for the alleged hammer attack.
Police say they were in the area where the assault happened investigating a missing person report when they were approached by a person who told them they had been attacked near the home where the bodies were. Prosecutors say the victim reported being attacked by a man with a hammer, who is believed to be Clowney. He was allegedly caught by cops with the hammer, a baseball bat, and three phones.
When officers entered the home where the assault allegedly happened, they found the bodies of Norman Hamlin, 66, Mark Barnett, 65, and William Barrett, 72, covered in “dirty clothes” and a carpet, according to an update provided by police officials last week.
“It does not appear that the bodies were brought there,” Detroit Police Cmdr. Rebecca McKay told reporters at a press conference after the discovery. “It appears that the assault happened inside of the home.”
McKay said authorities were in the 3100 block of South Edsel Street at about 12:50 p.m. on Feb. 18 probing the missing person report.
“Police went into that home and found the three individuals … in the basement deceased,” McKay explained.
Sources told local ABC affiliate WXYZ that the home where the bodies were found had blood everywhere. The men had been dead for about a day.
“[The victims] had apparently been brutally assaulted,” McKay said.
Neighbors told local media outlets they didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary leading up to the discovery.
“Didn’t hear a thing,” said block club president Thomas Barnes in an interview with WXYZ. “Tragic, especially when it’s right there under your nose, so to speak.”
Clowney is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a probable cause hearing.