Detroit Vet John O’Leary Reportedly Murdered
• UPDATED: The Detroit News reports that a suspect is in custody and awaiting arraignment on murder charges in connection with the weekend stabbing death of veteran Detroit air personality John O’Leary.
The body of O’Leary, 68, was discovered by police in his Highland Park home on Sunday after friends reported him missing. Highland Park Police Chief Johnny Thomas said, “We have a suspect in custody, and he’s awaiting arraignment,” while declining to release further details about the ongoing investigation.
As first related to RAMP by Michigan’s own Art Vuolo, O’Leary was well-known within the rock radio community in the Detroit area and in out-state Michigan, having cracked the mic at such legendary Motor City stations as WWWW (W4), WABX, WLLZ, and most recently at Beasley Classic Rock WCSX. O’Leary also worked across the river in Windsor, Ontario at CIMX (89X), as well as at WIQB/Ann Arbor and WILS-FM/Lansing, MI. He was also a voiceover talent at Babo Productions and at the Radio X Network.
Detroit rock radio icon Doug Podell posted a brief remembrance of his former longtime colleague on Facebook, noting, “So very sad to hear of the passing of John O’Leary. We worked at 4 radio stations together in Detroit — WABX, W4, WLLZ, WCSX… we were truly brothers in sound. You will be missed my friend. RIP.” What provoked this horrific crime is currently unknown, as is any news about a funeral or memorial service.
