Pontiac man charged with murder of neighbor and rape of victim’s wife and daughter

PONTIAC, Michigan (FOX 2) – A 50-year-old Pontiac man has been charged with killing his neighbor and raping the victim’s wife and daughter.

On Friday, Timothy Ernest Legard was charged with 11 counts, including first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping and first- and second-degree sexual abuse.

Investigators say Legard and the victims were neighbors on Ypsilanti Avenue in Pontiac. On Wednesday, he allegedly went to the victims’ home at 6 a.m. and met the male victim outside while his wife was helping their daughter get ready for school.

According to police, Legard stabbed the man, then entered the house and assaulted his wife and daughter. The two managed to escape to another neighbor’s house and call 911.

When officers arrived, they found the husband and father dead in the driveway with a stab wound to the chest. Officers located the defendant nearby, arrested him, and he is being held in the Oakland County Jail.

“This will leave a lifetime of psychological scars,” said Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “I don’t know how you get over this kind of attack, this kind of absolute victimization of these two completely innocent people.”

Neighbors are shocked.

“It’s disturbing, you never know what’s wrong with someone,” said one resident. “To do something like that to a child, the person must be psychologically damaged.”

“This was an absolutely brutal and cruel attack on a family,” said Oakland County District Attorney Karen McDonald. “First-degree murder, first-degree sexual abuse and kidnapping are crimes punishable by life in prison, and these are the most serious charges my office is bringing.”

“We will fight vigorously for justice for this family and protect the community from the perpetrators of violence.”

The defendant remains in the Oakland County Jail awaiting arraignment this weekend.

First-degree murder is a felony punishable by life imprisonment without parole and requires DNA sampling upon arrest. Kidnapping is a felony punishable by life imprisonment or any term of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $50,000 and requires DNA sampling upon arrest.

First-degree sexual assault is a serious crime punishable by life imprisonment or a term of imprisonment for a term of at least 25 years, and requires lifetime electronic monitoring and testing for AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

Second-degree sexual assault is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and requires mandatory AIDS/STD testing and DNA sampling upon arrest.

Assault with intent to commit sexual harassment is a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison and requires mandatory AIDS/STD testing and DNA sampling upon arrest.

Assault with a dangerous weapon (aggravated assault) is a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,000.