Michael Crocker Charged with Murder

"They better find the right person. They know who did it. I guarantee I didn't do it and these people here knows I didn't do it", said Michael Crocker as investigators led him to jail in handcuffs. It's a sight the father of Stephen Perret has waited to see for four long years.

Stephen Perret Senior spoke to WKRG News 5 after Crocker's arrest in the murder of his son,  "He would be pleased that finally..finally justice coming. Because he was a just man..he did anything and everything for anybody. He did anything and anything for Michael Crocker too and his family".

Investigators believe Crocker shot his close neighbor and friend after Perret discovered Crocker had been stealing from his Mount Vernon company that Crocker partly owned. "Our victim, Stephen O'neal Perret was truly an innocent victim. He was an employee of Mr. Crocker's..and no one deserves to be murdered but he was a true innocent victim", Lt. Paul Burch told reporters after Crocker's Tuesday arrest.

In August of 2007, Perret's body was found in a truck outside his home. A week later, Crocker claimed an attacker in the neighborhood cut out his tongue. Investigators said Crocker did it to himself. Maintaining his innocence, Crocker speaks more clearly now than he did four years ago telling reporters, "I'd be a pretty bad dude if I did that".

When asked why investigators are accusing him of murder, Crocker responded, "Because I'm an easy target, and the ones that did do it..they can't touch them".

But, investigators are convinced crocker shot his friend in cold blood and mutilated himself to cover it up. Perret's dad believes there's enough evidence to put him away but, says the fight isn't over. "If you look at it, we're only fifty percent there. We're in half time at a football game right now. When he's committed, the final whistle blows..that's when we can be excited and feel good about justice", said Perret Senior.