Young Lexington man convicted on all counts, including First-Degree Murder

Mount Clemens, MI - Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced that Stephen Freeman, a 22-year-old man from Lexington, MI, was convicted yesterday on all counts related to the murder of Gabriele Seitz, a 63-year-old woman from Roseville, MI.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, after a two-week trial conducted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Kumar Palepu and Darrian Fortier, a Macomb County Circuit Court jury deliberated for over seven hours before convicting Freeman of the following charges:

1. Homicide – Murder – First-Degree Premeditated, a life without parole felony
2. Homicide – Felony Murder, a life without parole felony
3. Home Invasion – First-Degree, a 20-year felony
4. Criminal Sexual Conduct – Second-Degree, a 15-year felony
5. Concealing the Death of an Individual, a 5-year felony
6. Stolen Property – Receiving and Concealing – Motor Vehicle, a 5-year felony

Freeman is expected be sentenced on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. before Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Julie Gatti.

On October 27, 2022, Freeman, who was 19 years old, broke into Seitz’s residence through a window when she was not at home. When she arrived home from work, he sexually assaulted her and strangled her with a shoelace. After dragging Seitz’s body, in what appeared to be blue bedsheets, to her truck, he put her in the truck’s bed. As he was driving her truck in Roseville, near Hayes and Common, the vehicle was hit by a semi-truck and he fled on foot. Police investigated and discovered Seitz’s body. 

“Today’s verdict delivers justice for the victim and her family. This young man’s actions were brutal, deliberate, and have left lasting scars on our community. While no conviction can erase the pain and loss suffered, we hope this outcome provides a measure of closure. I am grateful to the jurors for their careful consideration of the evidence. Our office remains committed to pursuing justice and ensuring that those who commit such heinous crimes are held fully accountable,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office represents the People. We are committed to achieving justice and following the laws of the State of Michigan. All that are accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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