Man Charged In Torture of Woman in Saginaw Township

A man with a criminal history is again in jail, accused of assaulting and torturing a woman who was found dead at a Saginaw Township motel on Sunday.

Police say 46-year-old Daniel Varnes beat and tortured 46-year-old Teressa Johnson for at least a week before she died, then hid her body in a room of the Rodeway Inn and Suites at 4930 St. Mary’s Lane. An acquaintance of Varnes saw the woman’s body on a bed under a blanket and called 9-1-1.

Varnes was arrested Sunday afternoon after fleeing the scene that morning. He is charged with torture, assault with intent to murder, and concealing the death of an individual. Prosecutors say they may amend the charges to include open murder once autopsy results are available.

According to court records, Varnes has previous convictions, four in Michigan, plus four other convictions from the state of Florida.