Junkie Sentenced to Life for Murder of Retired GM Worker

A Walled Lake woman will be spending the rest of her days in prison after admitting responsibility in the murder of a 79-year-old retired GM worker, reports The Detroit Free Press.

Read: Man Killed With Own Pickup After Trying to Help: Police

Long-time heroin addict Ruth Pozdol, 39, carjacked retiree Clifford Van Haywald’s 2001 Chevrolet Silverado on Jan. 18 in a Waterford Burger King parking lot in effort to obtain more drugs from her Detroit dealer. Van Haywald attempted to stop Pozdol, but was killed in the skirmish by his own vehicle.

The mother of two fled the scene and drove to Detroit where she sold the stolen pickup for $200 and used the money to purchase more heroin. She turned herself in to police at the advice of her husband later that day.

“I did not think I would hurt him. I wasn’t thinking about hurting anyone,” Pozdol said in court, according to The Detroit Free Press.

Pozdol was also convicted of carjacking. Her life sentence begins Oct. 21.

You can read the full story on The Detroit Free Press’ website.