Fraser man gets life in woman's bludgeoning death

Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Mount Clemens -- The adoptive mother of Rebekah Seely called her confessed killer an "evil coward" this morning just before a Macomb Circuit Court judge ordered the 24-year-old Fraser man to spend the rest of his life in prison for her death.

"He chose to kill for the thrill of it," Judith Seely said tearfully. "She fought for her life the best she knew how. He will never feel remorse or shame."

Lorenc Babu unexpectedly pleaded guilty last month to first-degree premeditated murder in Seely's death. He then detailed for Judge Mary Chrzanowski how he bludgeoned and drowned the 30-year-old Roseville woman and dumped her body in a gravel pit retention pond.

Babu was expressionless today when he declined to make any statements about Seely's murder, but on Sept. 10 he had no reservations about detailing the slaying before the court.

He said he lured Seely from her apartment at 13 Mile and Utica to a Clinton Township gravel pit on claims her brother was in trouble.

Babu admitted he'd been planning the murder for a couple days, and that he allegedly drank a couple 40-ounce beers and smoked a joint that night. He grabbed a knife and tire iron from his vehicle and walked with Seely to the pond.

"Next thing I know, I grabbed the lock wrench and started hitting her in the head," Babu told Chrzanowski in September, adding he didn't know why he did it, according to testimony on a videotape obtained by The News. "I felt like it, you know what I'm saying? Something got to me."

Babu said he hit Seely at least five or six times in the head and put her face into the mud. Later, he threw her into the water, hit her with his boots and held her under for about two minutes until she stopped moving.

Meanwhile, Babu also has claimed to have knowledge about an unsolved triple murder in Fairfax, Va., that occurred several days after Seely's Nov.15, 2008, death.

Babu's attorney, Daniel Garon, today said he's secured a Virginia attorney who has agreed to represent Babu after he claimed in court to have information about the deaths there. Macomb prosecutors have said the Virginia murder case may be what prompted Babu to plead guilty here.

Before Babu was extradited to Michigan last November to face charges in Seely's murder, he was arrested in a New York church homeless shelter with the cell phone of one of the Virginia murder victims -- Terence Strope -- in his possession.

Fairfax County police officials said three Springfield, Va., men -- Strope, 38, brother Ryan Strope, 26, and Andres Yelicie, 26 -- were stabbed inside a North Springfield home on Nov. 19. Police say the robbery was drug related. All three men died.

Garon declined to discuss Babu's involvement in the Virginia case, but said his client pleaded guilty to Seely's death for good reason.

"This is not a spur-of-the moment decision," Garon said.

Despite his claims, Virginia authorities have repeatedly said they aren't interested in speaking with Babu.

Fairfax County Chief Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Ian Rodway previously told The News that officials aren't sure if Babu is in any way linked to what happened in Fairfax County or if the cell phone he allegedly had is related to the homicides.

Rodway has called Babu a "person of interest" in the slayings, but said Virginia police have no immediate plans to question him.

"It very well may be a dead end no matter what he may have said in court," Rodway has said. "There are no plans to bring him back at all."

Rodway did not return calls this week seeking comment.

Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Bill Cataldo today said his office hopes Virginia authorities will come to Michigan to interview Babu.

Cataldo said he believes Babu has more to offer Virginia authorities than a tip about who may have committed the triple homicide.

"He would have attempted to negotiate a deal to benefit in Michigan to trade off information. He didn't," Cataldo said. "It's more than just I know who did it and I can help you."

cferretti@detnews.com (586) 468-0343