Husband charged in 2002 murder of wife released on home detention

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD (WBFF) — A judge released Dwight “DJ” Rust Jr., the former husband of missing woman Michelle Rust, on home detention on Wednesday as he faces a murder charge in the 2002 cold case.

He also had to surrender his passport.

Last month, Rust was held without bail to “promote public safety,” and was considered to be a flight risk.

On April 21, 2026, DJ Rust was arrested and charged with the murder of Michelle Rust, nearly 24 years after her disappearance.

Police said that on Saturday, July 20, 2002, at about 3 p.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Clarke Boulevard in Halethorpe for a reported missing person.

DJ Rust told authorities at the time that Michelle left their home around 9:30 a.m. to go to the store to pick up items for their son’s third birthday party and never returned. She was last seen driving a green Dodge van, police said.

Investigators said efforts by both the police department and Rust’s family to find her were unsuccessful.

During a search of various neighborhoods, police said her father-in-law found her vehicle in the 2400 block of Zion Road. The van was parked and unoccupied, and a key was broken off in the driver’s door lock, police said.

On April 20, a grand jury indicted DJ Rust on a charge of first-degree murder, police said.

He was arrested the following day and was being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

In court last month, the prosecution offered no new evidence that explained why DJ Rust is being charged almost 24 years later.

However, the prosecution said they’ve eliminated the possibility that Michelle committed suicide or disappeared voluntarily, which left them with only DJ as having the means or motive to kill her.

In court last month, the prosecution revealed that DJ was having an affair with a 19-year-old girl from his church and had plans to leave Michelle suspiciously the same weekend she went missing.

Authorities said that the same woman, named Ashley, is now DJ’s wife, and they have three children together. She was present in the courtroom on April 24.

Now, he has been released on home detention, and will be placed on electronic monitoring while he faces a murder charge in the case.

This is a developing story. FOX45 will provide updates as they become available.