POLICE were today searching for a couple who had rented the home where the decaying bodies of Diana Ross' brother, a woman, and three emaciated pit bull terriers were discovered.
Arthur Ross, 47, a songwriter for Marvin Gaye, Madonna, and stars from his sister's Motown record label, was found on Saturday after neighbours called police to report a foul smell, said Lieutenant John McNeilance.
Arthur Ross and the woman, who has not been identified, were suffocated, McNeilance said. The bodies were believed to have been in the home since about June 1.
Police wanted to question Ricky Vernon Brooks, 44, and Regina Smith, 36, who rented the suburban Detroit home. Brooks' car was missing, police said, and neighbours said they last saw Brooks and Smith three or four weeks ago.
Arthur Ross was identified by a fingerprint match. His family did not report him missing. He had been scheduled to appear today at a hearing on three charges of possessing a controlled substance.
In a statement released yesterday, Diana Ross said: ``I am shocked and devastated by the loss of my brother, Arthur. I loved him very, very much.''
According to the biography Call Her Miss Ross, Diana Ross got her brother a job as a songwriter with Motown in the 1970s. He wrote songs for the Miracles and Marvin Gaye and recorded his own album in 1978, which sold 12,000 copies.
Madonna also recorded several of Arthur Ross songs on her latest album, Something to Remember.
``I know it will just devastate the family,'' said Mary Wilson, formerly of The Supremes, the Diana Ross-fronted group that had numerous hits in the 1960s.-AP.
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