Tresa Baldas

Detroit Free Press

In a bizarre twist to a gruesome stabbing in Grosse Pointe Farms, police say the handyman charged in the case claims the victim — a wealthy interior designer — came on to him the day before the attack, triggering a fight that got out of control.

"He said, 'I never went there to do this. It just went wrong,' " said Grosse Pointe Farms police Lt. Richard Rosati, referring to the suspect's version of events.

The defendant, David Corzilius, a 49-year-old drug addict from Warren with a lengthy criminal history, was arraigned on six charges Friday, including assault with intent to murder. He is being held on a $1-million bond at the Wayne County jail for allegedly stabbing 69-year-old Daniel Clancy inside and outside his stately mansion last weekend, duct-taping his hands during a fight and stealing items from his home.

Grosse Pointe Farms victim knew addict held in stabbing

According to Rosati, Corzilius told investigators he was at Clancy's house on Saturday and had shoveled the snow. He got paid $50, but wanted $60, police said. Clancy asked for a hug. The handyman obliged. At that point, Corzilius claimed, Clancy touched his buttocks.

"He said he was enraged by it, thought about it all night, and went to talk to him about it the next day," Rosati said.

The handyman told police he was waiting at the home when Clancy returned from Costco. The two went inside and, as Clancy was cutting roses in the sink with a knife, the suspect brought up the alleged touching incident. Clancy didn't want to talk about it and asked the handyman to leave. The handyman said he refused to leave and attacked Clancy. During the fight, the handyman claims he drove the knife into Clancy's neck while Clancy was holding it, and later threw the knife in the lake.

But some of his story doesn't add up, police say. According to Rosati, an off-duty FBI agent found a knife on the boulevard and it is being evaluated by investigators.

"This is his story," Rosati said. "I'm just saying what he said. He's innocent 'til proven guilty. Let the courts do their job now."

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy concluded her office had enough evidence to seek criminal charges.

“It was pretty clear to those in law enforcement that this brutally violent assault was not random, but the work of someone who knew Mr. Clancy," Worthy said. "The alleged actions of the defendant bear this out.”

Clinton Township attorney Tim Doty, who is representing Corzilius and has known his family for years, said he looks forward to exonerating his client.

“Like most things, there’s more to a story than what’s been out there so far,” Doty said. “We’re looking forward to our opportunity to making our case in court.”

Doty said that while his client has an opiate problem, and suffers from bipolar disorder, he manages to keep his life in order when he is being treated.

“I’ve never seen David act in a threatening or abusive or hurtful manner,” Doty said. “When he’s being treated, he’s normal.”

According to Michigan Department of Corrections records, Corzilius has had several criminal convictions for crimes involving drugs, stealing, larceny from a building, fleeing a police officer and forgery.

Police have said Corzilius overdosed just days after the stabbing and wound up at St. John's Hospital in Detroit, the same hospital where the stabbing victim was taken.

Clancy, meanwhile, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Rosati said that he has visited with Clancy, and that he is showing improvement, but still unable to talk.

"Mr. Clancy is still fighting for his life," Rosati said Friday. "But his condition is improving, so the doctors are hopeful."

Contact Tresa Baldas: on Twitter @tbaldas or tbaldas@freepress.com