Daniel Sorensen
26-year-old Daniel Sorensen was murdered early in November 2008. His headless body was found on November 8, 2007, in a residential development near Detroit, Michigan. The body had been stabbed 12 times, his hands and feet burned with a blowtorch. His severed head was found a few days later in a separate location nearly 15 miles away.
Murder Suspects
Jean Pierre Orlewicz, 17, and Alexander Letkemann, 18, were charged with premeditated murder, felony murder and mutilation of a corpse. Prosecutors say that Sorensen was lured into Orlewicz's grandfather's garage, then murdered and wrapped in a tarp which had previously been prepared. Letkemann pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder in order to avoid a mandatory life sentence attached to first degree conviction. He was sentenced to 20-30 years in prison. He claims that he had not taken part in the killing, but only witnessed it and helped clean up afterwards.
Alleged Thrill-Killing
Prosecutors are calling the murder a "thrill killing" as no obvious motive could be found. He allegedly owed Orlewicz a small amount of money and had possession of a gun belonging to Orlewicz, but prosecutors claim that this is unrelated to the murder. Sorensen was required to register his address in relation to a sex offense. When he was 17 years old, he had a sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl. His registry status was also, prosecutors say, unrelated to his murder.
Murder Conviction
On April 16, 2008, Orlewicz was found guilty of first-degree murder for the alleged thrill-kill of Sorensen. The jury only took a day of deliberation to convict Sorensen's murderer.
Fast Facts
- Full name: Daniel Gene Vincent Sorensen
- Letkemann testifyed against Orlewicz
- Letkemann led police to the body
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