Fans respond to news that veteran Detroit radio DJ John O’Leary was found stabbed to death in Highland Park’s home
An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of a beloved veteran Detroit disc jockey, who was found dead in his home in Highland Park on Sunday.
After spending four decades on rock radio in Detroit, he manned the microphone at stations such as WWWW-FM, WLLZ-FM, WABX-FM and the classic rock station WCSX-FM, where he worked from 2002-2013 before dedicating his time to voiceover work, John O’Leary, 68, was found stabbed to death in his backyard on Candler Street in Highland Park.
Police responded to calls early last week claiming O’Leary was actually dead in his backyard, Fox 2 News reports, but said they found nothing to support those allegations at the time. About Detroit Free Press, O’Leary’s body had been found under the front porch covered with sheets and some gardening and building materials after police conducted a wellness check.
Police say the suspect, whose identity has not been revealed but has been reported as O’Leary’s roommate, has been remanded in custody pending prosecution for murder charges.
It is still unclear when O’Leary was murdered.
“So very sad to hear of John O’Learly’s passing,” a Detroit longtime radio station and O’Leary’s colleague Doug Podell wrote on Facebook. “We worked on 4 radio stations together in Detroit WABX W4 WLLZ WCSX … we were really brothers in sound. You will be missed my friend.”
A Redford High School graduate and a Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts alum, O’Leary started his radio career in 1975 on WWWW FM.
“He was very passionate about radio,” Podell said Detroit News. “He was almost a historian when it came to Detroit radio, and he was just about to launch a podcast with some friends who were watching the early days of Detroit rock radio.”
“WABX Air Ace John O’Leary is dead,” local author Peter Werbe wrote on Facebook. “He was a friend and colleague, most recently with me at WCSX. He organized a radio historical event on Edo Raman with me, Chuck Santoni and Ron Robinson at the time of his death. A deep emotional blow and a great loss of community.”
Detroit / Windsor disc jockey Greg Gnyp says he is “sad to say we lost a great DJ.”
“Hope you are in a giant studio where you are now my friend,” Gnyp wrote on Facebook.
Longtime morning radio host Jim Harper paid tribute to O’Leary on his website Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
“The only thing John loved more than being on the radio was getting in touch with Detroit listeners like you,” Harper wrote. “He played rock tunes for many years at a variety of stations, most recently WCSX. He had tremendous talent and was one of the cutest guys I’ve ever worked with. You will not find anyone in our industry with bad guys. things to say about him … he was truly one of the last Peace, Love and Rock Roll DJs to exist. ”
He continued, “You have definitely left YOUR trail, Johnny. I will try for the rest of my life to be as kind as you were.”
“RIP my radio friend John O’Leary,” Pam Rossi wrote on social media. “Hearing this was like a blow to the stomach this morning. So sad. I worked with John on WCSX and could always count on a good radio story. You will definitely be missed.”
About Detroit Free Press, pall music promoters in the Detroit area, including friend Brian Major, who was tasked with identifying O’Leary’s body as he had no immediate living family members, plan to host a tribute concert and memorial service for O’Leary, though likely takes place after the holiday.
Had the good fortune, just by chance, to chat with John O’Leary just 10 days ago, reportedly about the Rolling Stones, but as with most things with John, so much more. A true gentleman. A real part of Detroit music and radio. Really tragic. Let’s remember him well. pic.twitter.com/a5J92OLtt9
– Gary Graff (@GraffonMusic) November 22, 2021
A sad loss for Detroit radio … RIP John O’Leary of WABX, WLLZ fame Longtime Detroit disc jockey stabbed to death; police say suspect in custody https://t.co/KZkRIRM8hr via @detroitnews
– Susan Whitall (@swhitall) November 22, 2021
Detroit rock DJ John O’Leary found dead; suspect in custody. It’s just terribly sad, I wish his friends and family good luck. I know John LOVED radio and was known among rock radio fans here. https://t.co/R5GRBANyuE
– The Drew & Mike Show (@DrewMikePodcast) November 23, 2021
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