Mikes Sr. )
Troy — Police aren't buying the story that the father of two sons went for a bicycle ride last Friday and simply disappeared.
For one, his helmet was found in the family garage. His riding shoes were inside the house. And so was undisclosed evidence that leads authorities to believe Patrick Joseph Mikes Sr. was murdered in his basement.
"We are now discounting that story — we are treating this as a homicide," Troy Police Capt. Robert Redmond said during a press conference Thursday.
The statements came hours before one of his sons, Patrick Joseph Mikes Jr., 21, posted bond and was released from jail on unrelated charges.
The Notre Dame University student had been in custody since Sunday — the day his father was reported missing — and charged Wednesday on accusations that he used his brother's credit card without authorization.
He is considered a "person of interest" in the disappearance.
Evidence suggests a violent encounter in the basement of the upscale home on Homewood, police said.
Authorities wouldn't elaborate on what they found, but neighbors said officers removed a blood-soaked carpet and the missing man's car during a 15-hour search Sunday. Redmond said police obtained a video of Mikes Jr. purchasing cleaning supplies Friday night.
"Investigators have been working with the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office and due to the type of evidence found it is highly unlikely someone would have survived," Redmond said.
Authorities said they became suspicious of some answers provided by the sons, who reported their father's disappearance 40 hours after seeing him ride away on his bicycle.
Police said they know the elder Mikes, 55, was home on Thursday but didn't show up to his job as an accountant on Friday. They're working to establish a timeline for Mikes Jr.'s whereabouts Thursday night to Sunday morning.
Redmond stressed that the younger son, Andrew Mikes, 16, is not a suspect and is cooperating with investigators.
Andrew is living with relatives at an undisclosed location and investigators fear for his safety.
His attorney, Christopher Andreoff, declined comment on his client or the case Thursday.
The father's black and red Cannondale Super 6 road bicycle remains missing.
(248) 338-0319
Detroit News Staff Writer Mark Hicks contributed.
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