GROSSE POINTE, Mich. – Testimony was heard in the case against a man accused of intentionally ramming a billboard box truck promoting a podcast about the death of JoAnn Matouk Romain.
William Michael-Louis Matouk II was in court for a preliminary examination on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Matouk is accused of intentionally driving a Chevrolet Express van into a billboard box truck on June 30, 2024, near Mack Avenue and Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. The billboard box truck driver was injured in the crash.
The box truck was promoting a podcast that looks into the death of JoAnn Matouk Romain, who was last seen alive on Jan. 12, 2010, at a prayer service at the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms. Her car, with her purse, and wallet were found in the church parking lot.
Investigators said they followed footprints in the snow from the lot to Lake St. Clair. They searched the waters, but did not find her. Then, in March of that year, her body was found by fishermen in a channel of the Detroit River.
Police said they believed she killed herself by walking into Lake St. Clair. Her family believes she was murdered.
---> What we know about the JoAnn Matouk Romain case
Local 4 crews attended the preliminary examination, but cameras were not allowed in the courtroom.
A witness testified that Matouk rammed the billboard truck three times until the white van he was driving started smoking and a tire blew out.
The witness also testified that they took pictures of Matouk before the crash because he appeared agitated and they were familiar with him, and JoAnn’s case. The witness said they had listened to a podcast on the case the day before the crash.
A Grosse Pointe Woods police officer testified that he followed the skid marks and damage from the road to Telly’s Place, a bar and grill in Grosse Pointe Woods. The evidence appeared to lead to the white van. The officer questioned Matouk and said he denied being involved in a crash and claimed the vehicle had been there for months.
Matouk was bound over and is expected back in court at 9 a.m. on March 12, 2025.
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