Husband impersonates trooper at morgue to see wife he had abused, Michigan cops say

A man is accused of abusing his wife, then impersonating a trooper to visit her body in a morgue, Michigan authorities say.

Michigan State Police troopers said they first encountered 74-year-old John Dominick Bromley in June 2024 as they investigated a report of him and his 68-year-old wife squatting in an Otsego County cabin.

The couple, who were homeless, were living in the cottage without permission, state police said. But as troopers investigated, they began to see signs of domestic abuse.

State police said Bromley’s wife “had extensive bruising” and was having “difficulty breathing.” She was taken to a hospital, where she told authorities her husband had been abusing her.

The wife, whose identity was not publicly disclosed, died a few days later, troopers said.

Bromley then pretended to be a trooper to gain access to the morgue where his wife’s body was, but he was not allowed inside, authorities said.

Following a “lengthy investigation” and an autopsy performed on the victim, Bromley was charged with aggravated domestic violence and vulnerable adult abuse, according to a news release.

State police said Bromley was arrested during a traffic stop in Oakland County. He was taken to the Otsego County Jail on Feb. 9, where he remains on a $50,000 bond.

Bromley also faces charges of impersonating an officer, authorities said.

Otsego County is about a 240-mile drive northwest from Detroit.

This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Husband impersonates trooper at morgue to see wife he had abused, Michigan cops say."