UPDATED: 3 in Custody as 'Persons of Interest' in Bloomfield Township Home Invasion, Murder

This story was updated at 9:33 p.m. to include new details:

A handyman and two accomplices – a man and a woman – are in custody and police are still developing leads in the home invasion and slaying of William Whitelaw, the 75-year-old Bloomfield Township man whose body was discovered Thursday, Sept. 4, by relatives, The Detroit News reports.

“We believe we have the people responsible and expect to have them charged in the near future,” Township Police Capt. Scott McCanham said Monday afternoon.

One of the three suspects was a handyman at the condominium complex, where William Whitelaw was the well-liked association president. “He was someone who had done work for him and had been inside his home,” McCanham said. “It wasn’t uncommon for the victim to let him into his home or to leave a key for him under the mat.”

The names of the suspects haven’t been released. All three are Wayne residents and each has an extensive criminal background, police said.

Our earlier report:

Three people are being held in connection with the Thursday beating death of William Whitelaw, 75,whose body was found by relatives in his Bloomfield Township condominium Thursday, Sept. 4.

Charges haven’t been filed yet in the the murder of Whitelaw, who died from blunt force injuries to the head, The Detroit News reports, but a formal announcement is expected later Monday about the three persons of interest.

The three were apprehended after police focused their investigation on an unspecified area in Wayne County where they discovered valuables believed stolen from Whitelaw’s residence during a home invasion and murder.

Police believe the suspects turned on the gas and lit several candles in hopes of causing an explosion and fire that would cover up the crime, but the fire never occurred. There were no signs of forced entry, leading police to speculate the victim knew at least one of the suspects, though they emphasized none of the suspects is related to Whitelaw.

Whitelaw lived with his adult son at the condominium complex, where he was the association president. Neighbors have described him as cordial and well-liked.