Topline: Edgardo Luis Perez was denied bond after being extradited from Guatemala and arraigned in the 2001 killing of Farmington Hills resident Gordon Machek.
Published: July 13, 2026 9:00 am ET
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Edgardo Luis Perez's is original "Wanted" photo, left, and his recent mugshot (via Farmington Hills Police Department).
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — Edgardo Luis Perez, 44, was arraigned Friday after authorities extradited him from Guatemala in the 2001 killing of Farmington Hills resident Gordon Machek, according to local investigators and the FBI.
Reporting from ClickOnDetroit said Machek, 56, was last seen on Oct. 20, 2001, after leaving to spend the day with Perez, who police say had recently befriended him at a health club. Machek was reported missing two days later, and investigators concluded he had been murdered even though his body was never found.
Police and federal agents said the case against Perez developed over years and included DNA evidence as well as investigative findings that he may have targeted Machek to steal his identification and money while trying to avoid prison on a probation violation. Authorities also said Perez possessed books on changing identity, evading capture and moving money online.
Perez had originally been charged in 2003, but remained a fugitive for years before his arrest on July 8. At Friday’s arraignment, he was charged with felony murder, first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter. A judge denied bond.
The case stands out not only because of its age, but because it shows how a homicide file can remain active long after the original trail goes cold. Farmington Hills police said successive groups of investigators carried the case forward for years, a persistence that finally turned a 2001 disappearance into a 2026 courtroom appearance.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Man Accused in 2001 Cold Case Murder Extradited From Guatemala
Edgardo Luis Perez was denied bond after being extradited from Guatemala and arraigned in the 2001 killing of Farmington Hills resident Gordon Machek.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: July 13, 2026 9:00 am ET
Edgardo Luis Perez's is original "Wanted" photo, left, and his recent mugshot (via Farmington Hills Police Department).
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — Edgardo Luis Perez, 44, was arraigned Friday after authorities extradited him from Guatemala in the 2001 killing of Farmington Hills resident Gordon Machek, according to local investigators and the FBI.
Reporting from ClickOnDetroit said Machek, 56, was last seen on Oct. 20, 2001, after leaving to spend the day with Perez, who police say had recently befriended him at a health club. Machek was reported missing two days later, and investigators concluded he had been murdered even though his body was never found.
Police and federal agents said the case against Perez developed over years and included DNA evidence as well as investigative findings that he may have targeted Machek to steal his identification and money while trying to avoid prison on a probation violation. Authorities also said Perez possessed books on changing identity, evading capture and moving money online.
Perez had originally been charged in 2003, but remained a fugitive for years before his arrest on July 8. At Friday’s arraignment, he was charged with felony murder, first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter. A judge denied bond.
The case stands out not only because of its age, but because it shows how a homicide file can remain active long after the original trail goes cold. Farmington Hills police said successive groups of investigators carried the case forward for years, a persistence that finally turned a 2001 disappearance into a 2026 courtroom appearance.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Accused in 2001 Cold Case Murder Extradited From Guatemala
Edgardo Luis Perez was denied bond after being extradited from Guatemala and arraigned in the 2001 killing of Farmington Hills resident Gordon Machek.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: July 13, 2026 9:00 am ET
Edgardo Luis Perez's is original "Wanted" photo, left, and his recent mugshot (via Farmington Hills Police Department).
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — Edgardo Luis Perez, 44, was arraigned Friday after authorities extradited him from Guatemala in the 2001 killing of Farmington Hills resident Gordon Machek, according to local investigators and the FBI.
Reporting from ClickOnDetroit said Machek, 56, was last seen on Oct. 20, 2001, after leaving to spend the day with Perez, who police say had recently befriended him at a health club. Machek was reported missing two days later, and investigators concluded he had been murdered even though his body was never found.
Police and federal agents said the case against Perez developed over years and included DNA evidence as well as investigative findings that he may have targeted Machek to steal his identification and money while trying to avoid prison on a probation violation. Authorities also said Perez possessed books on changing identity, evading capture and moving money online.
Perez had originally been charged in 2003, but remained a fugitive for years before his arrest on July 8. At Friday’s arraignment, he was charged with felony murder, first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter. A judge denied bond.
The case stands out not only because of its age, but because it shows how a homicide file can remain active long after the original trail goes cold. Farmington Hills police said successive groups of investigators carried the case forward for years, a persistence that finally turned a 2001 disappearance into a 2026 courtroom appearance.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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