BREAKING NEWS
Joe Gentz, man at center of Bashara murder investigation, fights for right to visit daughter
Joseph Gentz Facebook picture
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 02/17/2012
DETROIT (WXYZ) - A Macomb County Court judge wants more information about Joseph Gentz's ten-year-old daughter before deciding if Gentz's visitation should be permanently blocked.
Judge Kathryn Viviano temporarily suspended visitation a week ago after prosecutors revealed that an assistant prosecutor heard Gentz talking about his involvement in the killing of Jane Bashara.
On Friday, G entz's attorney tried to convince the judge to reinstate Gentz’s visitation, arguing that his client has not been charged with any crime.
In an effort to determine what is best for Gentz's daughter, Judge Viviano ordered that a therapist meet with the child to find out how not being able to see her Father is affecting her.
Joseph Gentz has been at the center of the Jane Bashara murder investigation after reportedly telling police that Bob Bashara hired him to kill his wife in the garage of their Grosse Pointe Park home in late January.
A week after the murder, Gentz went to police to detail his involvement but investigators later released him from custody without publicly saying why he was freed.
Sources close to the investigation believe a defense attorney appointed to represent Gentz in the murder case is trying to strike a deal with prosecutors in exchange for Gentz's help in prosecuting others.
State officials have been trying to terminate Gentz’s parental rights for over a year now alleging neglect and Gentz’s reported murder confession has further complicated his fight to retain custody of his daughter.
Friends of Gentz have told 7 Action News that he believes the state began trying to terminate his parental rights because of his reported low IQ score.
Stay with Action News for the latest developments in today's hearing.
©2007 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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