Grosse Pointe woman was murdered, cause of death listed as strangulation

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Action News has learned that the cause of death listed for 56-year-old Jane Bashara is strangulation.

The body of the Grosse Pointe Park woman was found Wednesday morning in the back seat of her Mercedes Benz on Detroit's east side .

Bob Bashara, Jane's husband, reported her missing to Grosse Pointe Park Police 11:30 p.m. T uesday night.

A tow truck driver looking for random stolen vehicles found Bashara's luxury vehicle around 7 a.m . Wednesday parked in an alley just off of Pinewood street near Bradford.He spoke with police Thursday afternoon.

Jane's husband spoke with Grosse Pointe Park Police Thursday afternoon.

“I believe she was out running an errand and doing something and someone either carjacked her, kidnapped her, did something like that. I have no reason to believe she would be at 7 Mile and Hoover for any reason,” said Bashara's husband.

He also asked for anyone with information to come forward.

“Please come forward. The police need your help. In addition to those four women that had been put in the trunks, terrible things. Anyone that knows anything, please come forward.”

Bashara said he began to worry when his wife did not return home.

“I got home about five after 8:00 and she wasn’t around and I relaxed and figured she was out running an errand. As nine and nine-thirty approached, I became much more concerned and I got more people involved. I called my kids to see if they had heard from her and they hadn’t. I had been calling her cell phone to find out and then as time got on I involved the police because I was concerned there might be something wrong.”

Bob Bashara says family and friends have been very supportive and he says he is keeping their children busy putting together pictures for the funeral.

Visitation is Monday 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Peters Funeral Home at 8 Mile Road and Mack.

Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church on Lakeshore next to War Memorial.

Sources tell Action News signs of trauma were found on Bashara's throat, chest and back.

Bashara, a mother of two, was active in Grosse Pointe Schools and was a marketing manager for KEMA.  Coworkers last saw her after a meeting at Detroit Edison Headquarters near downtown Detroit Tuesday afternoon.

Police believe Bashara made it back to her Grosse Pointe Park home after work on Tuesday, but when her husband returned around 8:00 p.m. she was not there.

Wednesday night, a candlelight vigil was held in front of Grosse Pointe South High School in memory of Jane Bashara.

More than 100 people prayed, sang and shared their memories. When Bashara's husband and daughter showed up, there were endless hugs and expressions of sympathy.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call Detroit Police Homicide investigators at (313) 596-2260.

Stay with Action News for updates on this developing story.