Edgardo Luis Perez was returned from Guatemala and ordered held without bond on a felony murder charge.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — A man accused of killing a Farmington Hills resident and fleeing the country nearly 25 years ago has been extradited from Guatemala, arraigned on a felony murder charge and denied bond.
Edgardo Luis Perez, 44, appeared Friday in 47th District Court in connection with the 2001 death of Gordon Machek, a 56-year-old Farmington Hills resident. A judge entered a not guilty plea on Perez’s behalf. The case marks a major development in an investigation that passed through several generations of detectives while Perez remained outside the United States.
Authorities allege Perez befriended Machek at a health club, gained his trust and began visiting his home. Investigators believe Perez intended to take Machek’s identity and money before fleeing because he feared arrest for an unrelated probation violation. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Perez is presumed innocent unless convicted.
Machek was reported missing Oct. 22, 2001, according to the city’s cold-case record. Police later determined that he had been killed in his Farmington Hills home. His remains have not been recovered, and investigators have continued searching for a large black steamer trunk that they believe may have been used to conceal them.
Police said Machek’s last known contact was Oct. 20, 2001, when he told his roommate he planned to spend the day with Perez. Investigators allege that Perez used Machek’s credit card the next day to buy a one-way airline ticket to San Diego and make purchases in Mexico. Authorities have not publicly described all the evidence supporting the murder charge.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office charged Perez with felony murder in 2003. A federal warrant also accused him of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Farmington Hills police continued to publicize the case, releasing wanted notices and an age-progressed image as investigators pursued information about where Perez might be living.
Police Chief John Piggott said the investigation remained active throughout the years and was repeatedly passed to new officers as earlier investigators retired. Advances in DNA science contributed to authorities’ ability to bring the charge forward, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said.
“Gordon Machek was never forgotten,” McDonald said. She credited law enforcement investigators and assistant prosecutors who remained committed to the case and said the arrest could provide Machek’s loved ones with a measure of justice.
Perez was extradited from Guatemala on July 8 with assistance from the FBI, according to local authorities. Officials have not publicly provided a full account of how he was located, when he was arrested in Guatemala or what identity he may have used while living outside the United States.
Friends and relatives remembered Machek as a kind, creative and giving person who was preparing for retirement. His cousin, Lita Luce, said she had not given up hope that authorities would eventually find Perez. The extradition brought the family closer to a court proceeding, but the charge remains an allegation and the case has not been resolved by a verdict.
Perez remained in custody without bond after his arraignment. His probable cause conference was scheduled for July 17 at 9 a.m., when the prosecution and defense were expected to return to court as the felony case moved forward.
Author note: Last updated July 11, 2026.