Ever dreamed of owning a private island? For $600,000, that dream could become a reality, right here in metro Detroit.

Just five miles from downtown Clarkston, a two-story home on a private island in Dixie Lake is up for sale.

WATCH: Drone video from over the island on Dixie Lake WATCH: Check out this drone video over the island

The island is roughly 150 feet by 150 feet and includes a fully furnished home with three bedrooms, one bathroom, and panoramic lake views in every direction.

This is my first island, said listing agent Diane Ducat, as she gave 7 News Detroit a tour of the property. Youre always looking at the lake, every room has those great windows.

The home comes with many of the furnishings seen during the showing, including Detroit-themed dcor like seats from Tiger Stadium.

Ducat noted, Youre sitting in number six.

While the island life may sound idyllic, getting to and from the home can be tricky, but neighbors say the previous owners found creative solutions.

They used an airboat, or a hovercraft in the winter, said Bruce Cook, who lives across the lake. You just have to be creative, and kind of tough.

Despite the seasonal challenges, the property is drawing interest for its uniqueness and, for some, a surprisingly accessible price tag.

For more information about the property, contact Diane Ducat.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Investigators say a natural gas leak may have caused a house explosion that rocked a Westland neighborhood Monday evening.

Watch Sarah Michals video report: Westland home explosion marks fifth in metro Detroit in seven months

Westland Fire Marshal Kelly Eggers told 7 News Detroit that the blast happened inside a vacant home on Calhoun Court near Merriman Road and Michigan Avenue.

The explosion is part of a troubling trend across metro Detroit, where at least five home or apartment explosions have occurred in the last seven months, including incidents in Orion Township, Detroit, Southgate and Garden City.

Watch our initial report about the Westland home explosion in the video player below: 'Big kaboom': Explosion severely damages home in Westland, no one hurt

Juliana Sanchez, who lives down the street, was one of the first to call 911 after hearing the explosion around 6:50 p.m.

I kept smelling gas, but I didnt know where it was coming from, Sanchez said. Then, there was a loud boom. It was pretty scary.

Sanchez captured cellphone video of the immediate aftermath, showing debris scattered across the yard where the home once stood. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. Neighbors say the home has been vacant and is owned by a property company.

Juliana Sanchez talks more about the explosion aftermath in the video player below: Web extra: Neighbor talks about aftermath of explosion

Jamie Timmer, who says his mother used to live in the home, pointed out where the stove was once located.

Right here where this window is at would be where the stove was, so the gas line is down the middle of the house, Timmer said.

Eggers confirmed that investigators discovered an open gas line valve inside the home that appeared to have been disconnected from an appliance.

We did find a valve open, Eggers said. It looks like it was removed from an appliance. The Consumers Energy meter was clean, so we do not believe the leak originated there.

Hear more from Fire Marshal Kelly Egger in the video player below: Web extra: Westland fire marshal on explosion

Eggers said while the number of recent explosions might seem alarming, they are not entirely uncommon.

Its unfortunately the cost of doing business, so to speak, he said.

Still, the fire marshal emphasized the importance of safety when dealing with gas lines or appliances. He urged homeowners to call the fire department immediately if they smell gas in or around their home.

We have equipment. We can use to determine if there is actually a gas leak, Eggers said. Always make sure your gas lines are shut off before disconnecting any appliances.

Sanchez said her family will definitely be taking more precautions.

If that would have happened to our house or even a house closer to us, it could have been detrimental, she said.

A Michigan man who attempted to take his own life and survived is now the 18th person in the country to receive a face transplant.

Watch the story in the video player below: Michigan man who survived suicide attempt receives face transplant, now helping others

Only about 50 people in the world have ever received a face transplant, and the story of how this man got to this point is full of miraculous moments.

Call/Text/Chat 988 if you need emergency crisis intervention

Derek Pfaff, 30, showed me the first version of himself. The one who in 2012, had a seemingly perfect life. He was a captain of his high school football team, he scored a touchdown in the game that won them the state championship.

"I have to say, I was very happy when I did, Ill never forget that," said Derek.

He had a 4.0, amazing friends and family, blessings that followed him to his freshman year of college, but stress about maintaining his success followed him as well.

"I studied a lot. I put a lot of pressure on myself. If I didn't get an A on an exam, I felt like I failed," he said.

The pressure weighed heavily, but Derek tells me overall he was really quite happy, which makes his story perhaps even more shocking.

"I was on a spring break, I had came back from a ski trip up north with my friends. I had them over that night to play cards in the basement. And yeah, I don't remember getting the gun or doing any of that," he said.

Extended interview: Hear from Derek Pfaff talk about his journey Derek Pfaff talks about surviving suicide attempt & having facial transplant

"So before that day, you never had any thoughts of suicide?" I asked him.

"No, never, never crossed my mind," said Derek.

Derek was 19. He had no drugs or alcohol in his system. Derek and Lisa had plans to go to church early the next day. She woke up and went to check on all her kids around 1:30 in the morning.

"I went to Derek's rooms first and opened his door, and he wasn't in his room, and that was really strange," said Lisa Pfaff. "I went through the house, I couldn't find him, and Jerry went outside, and then I heard this loud scream, Derek, no, Derek no.' And he yelled, call 9-1-1, and he said Derek shot himself,'" recalled Lisa.

Lisa said he found Derek lying in a snowbank on March 5, 2014.

"He was in shorts and his t-shirt from what he had on that night, and the gun laying next to him," she said. "He had no face. There was no face, it was a gunshot wound right to his head and Jerry put him in the vehicle face down, which really was the first miracle, because if he would have put him face up in the vehicle, he would've drowned on the blood and choked to death on the two and a half miles just to get to our hospital."

No one thought there was any possibility that Derek would live; his parents called their priest, and his siblings prepared to say their goodbyes.

He was on life support for weeks, and then his mom asked him a question.

"One day I said, 'Derek, move your foot,' and his foot started moving," said Lisa. "We don't know what his quality of life is going to be. We dont know how his mind is going to be, but there is something still there."

Derek said the only way he could communicate with people was to write on a whiteboard.

"One day, I wrote down, where am I? Mom said, Henry Ford Hospital. I said, why am I here? She said, you had an accident. OK, a car accident. I wrote that down, did I hurt anyone? She told me what really happened. I wrote down, I would never do that,'" said Derek.

The second version of Derek began.

"From 2014 through 2020 he underwent 58 surgeries," said Lisa.

I asked Derek what he was feeling during that time.

"Angry. I mean, why would I do that to myself? And I thought, OK, I'm here. Let's make the best of it. Let's get back to normal as fast as we can, and relearn how to walk, talk write, how to swallow, drink out a water bottle.' All the little things you take for granted, I had to re-learn how to do," he said.

Somehow, Derek defied all odds and made it back home, but that doesnt mean life got easier.

He no longer had a nose, he lost an eye, his teeth and lips were mostly gone. The second version of himself looked very different.

"I didn't go out in public," he said.

Lisa said when he did go out in public, "people would point and... you know, call him names, and it was just so hard," she said.

When he did dare to go out, for instance, back to his high school football field to watch games, he said he would hide.

"Id go up in that tower right there," he told us.

Doctors tried everything to try and help Derek physically.

He tells me they moved part of his leg to his forearm, they attempted to grow a nose for him on his arm. Then, after 10 years, Lisa told Derek his only option left was a face transplant.

"I told her, 'we got this far, why stop? Let's finish it. Let's cross that finish line,'" Derek said.

The surgery at Mayo Clinic would make Derek the 18th person in the country to ever receive a face transplant. He would be one of only about 50 in the world to ever receive one.

"The day I was able to see my face, it was the 10-year anniversary of the night that I tried to take my life away. It was like full circle," said Derek.

"Do you think that was meant to be?" I asked.

"That was a sign from God, and truly ... he took a date that was very tragic and turned it into a good one," he said.

Lisa said people don't point at him anymore or do double-takes.

"It's just normalcy again," she said.

This is the third version of Derek.

Hes taken this gift and now travels as a guest speaker at high schools and events, advocating for suicide prevention.

"The thought of suicide never crossed my mind," he said. "But I'm pretty private at the time, I kept up my feelings and emotions inside. I didn't want to talk to anyone about it. I wish I would have now, mom, dad, whoever, got off my chest. I would have felt so much better."

His message now for others: "just please get it off your chest. Don't keep it in, you'll feel so much better."

Derek is now 30. He will soon have his last surgery, which includes getting new teeth, and having his trach taken out, allowing him to eat solid foods for the first time in 11 years.

He said he's most looking forward to eating pizza.

Derek has received hundreds of thank-you cards from those who have heard his story. Hes changed thousands of lives.

Its the third and final version of Derek Pfaff the best one yet.

"God chose our family for us to have to tell, for me to live. I truly believe that," he said.

Derek and Lisa never even mentioned it during our interview, but Dereks face transplant and other surgeries have cost them well over $1 million.

If you'd like to help the family, you can find their GoFundMe here.

Where Your Voice Matters

On the second day of the 2025 NFL Draft, a Shelby Township family will take the stage in Green Bay to announce the Detroit Lions second-round pick.

It's a moment they say theyre doing in honor of their late son, Christopher Kube, who gave his life in service to the country.

Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, said Dave Kube, Christophers father. I think Chris wanted us to do it.

Christopher Kube, a devoted Lions fan and sports enthusiast, enlisted in the Army in 2005 at the age of 17. Because he was too young to carry a weapon at the time, he carried a flag. He served with pride and a renewed love for life.

How was your morning? (he would respond) Outstanding, Dave Kube recalled with a smile. Everything was outstanding to him. He just had a love for life.

Christopher Kube often spoke about one day taking his entire family to a Super Bowl hopefully, one featuring his beloved Lions. But he never made it back.

In 2007 at just 18 years old, Christopher Kube was killed in Iraq when his Humvee was struck by an explosive device.

The loss devastated the Kube family but nearly two decades later, theyre being given a chance to fulfill some of Christophers dreams in his honor.

The nonprofit Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors has arranged for the Kube family to attend the NFL Draft and announce a Lions draft pick on stage. The family says the moment is not just for Christopher but for all veterans who have served.

Chris loved the Lions and all the sports, Dave Kube said.

His stepmother Krista added its a great way to honor him.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Car thefts have been rising steadily across Oakland County for years, but now West Bloomfield police say criminals are using increasingly advanced technology to get away with your vehicle, without ever needing your keys.

Police say they're using a tool called a ProPad, a legitimate locksmith device that can be used to clone key fobs and program new ones.

The warning comes after a car theft early Friday morning involving a well-known member of the community.

Kristina Rinaldi, executive director of Detroit Dog Rescue, says she watched thieves steal her vehicle right out of her driveway around 2:30 a.m.

I watched somebody drive off with my car, Rinaldi told 7 News Detroit.

She said she initially thought she was hearing an Amazon delivery when a white Dodge Charger pulled up to her home.

Then I hear my car unlock, she said. Im like, wait whats going on? And I see a young male, smaller build, in all black, run from that Charger to my truck. Im yelling hey! and then I hear a male voice from the Charger shouting Lets go, lets go.

Within seconds, the suspects drove off with both the Charger and Rinaldis Suburban, her primary vehicle for transporting rescued dogs.

She says West Bloomfield police arrived almost immediately after, using traffic and street cameras to track the suspects movements.

Deputy Police Chief Scott Mong said its part of a troubling trend.

Weve had three of these in the last two weeks, Mong said. Its called a ProPad. He explained that the ProPad is designed to help locksmiths program keys, but thieves are using it to gain access to vehicles parked in driveways, often during the day, and returning later at night to drive them away.

Friday afternoon, Rinaldis SUV was involved in a police chase that went through Eastpointe and ended in Detroit.

Authorities say the vehicle is totaled, but suspects are now in custody.

Rinaldi says shes just relieved the individuals responsible have been caught.

Whether youre at the gym, your own home, or just running into the store, take everything out of your car, lock it up, put it in the garage, whatever you gotta do, she said.

Police are urging the public to remain vigilant. If you see something suspicious, West Bloomfield police encourage you to report it. They say community tips are one of the most effective tools they have in stopping car theft rings.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Nearly two weeks after 17-year-old London Thomas was reported missing, her family and friends gathered at Hines Park in Westland on Thursday to continue the search for the teen.

Thomas was last seen on April 5 with her boyfriend on Carlyle Street in Inkster, according to Detroit police. Her cellphone was last pinged in the area of Cooper Upper Elementary School on Ann Arbor Trail in Westland.

Related Video: Search continues for missing 17-year-old London Thomas Search continues for missing 17-year-old London Thomas

Her mother, Jasma Bennett, said the disappearance is entirely out of character.

She was very connected to her sisters, Bennett said. They didnt go a day without talking to each other, no matter where they were or what they did. So all of this is strange, we havent talked to her, we havent seen her, we know nothing.

Bennett said the man Thomas was dating is 23 years old.

Watch our full interview with London Thomas' mom in the video player below: Full interview: Mom of London Thomas talks about daughter's disappearance

Detroit police say they are investigating the possibility of foul play and have identified two persons of interest. Multiple search warrants have been executed as the investigation continues.

We are looking into possible foul play, said Detroit Major Crimes Commander Rebecca McKay. We do have two persons of interest right now that we are investigating.

Thursday's search marked the second time the family has organized efforts to find Thomas.

Shell be 18 on May 10, and that makes it even worse, Bennett said.

Thomas stepfather, Darnell Johnson, said the family is doing everything they can to stay hopeful.

At this point, Im trying not to lose hope. Im trying not to lose faith, he said.

Bennett described her daughter as an outspoken teen with a soft heart, a love for music and hair, and a butterfly tattoo on her neck.

Please, just come home, she pleaded. I dont care what reason, just come home.

She asked the community for their prayers, "Please, for us and our family, please, 'cause this is all we have."

Anyone with information about London Thomas whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-SPEAK-UP or Detroit Rewards TV.

This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Laurie Christensen is one of the hundreds of residents living at the Westchester Village Condominiums in Clinton Township.

The residents are fearful of a proposed power line development being built right along their property on 19 Mile near Hayes Road.

"My first thought was 'why right there?'" said Christensen. "My one girlfriend said shell look out her balcony and see power lines."

Christensen said that residents are concerned about the aesthetics, property values, and potential environmental effects.

So, why would the power lines be built there?

Clinton Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem told 7 News Detroit: "Henry Ford Macomb Hospital did a major expansion a number of years back, the problem is they need more power."

Gieleghem said the controversy over where exactly to put the lines dates back to 2021.

According to him, it was originally proposed to run the lines down Dalcoma Drive, which runs behind Macomb Community College, but Gieleghem said the college opposed this due to aesthetics.

"When you weigh devaluing peoples residential homes and putting power lines that close to them, or the aesthetics of the college ... those two dont equal," said Gieleghem.

7 News Detroit reached out to Macomb Community College, they provided this statement:

"Macomb Community College has not received a formal request from ITC regarding running its Clinton Township transmission line project through the colleges Center Campus. Based on the materials submitted to the Clinton Township Board of Trustees, the current preferred route by ITC does not involve college property."

ITC, or International Transmission Company, is the company in charge of the project. They provided 7 News Detroit with this statement:

ITC is committed to continuing its work with the Clinton Township board to move forward with this critical project, ensuring completion of the interconnection request and that Henry Ford Macomb Hospital has the required power needed to properly serve the community. If the current application for special use permit along 19 Mile Road is approved, the new line to serve Henry Ford Macomb Hospital can be energized within 6 8 weeks from the start of construction. -Gary Kirsh, ITC Senior Area Manager

"The problem with that is that we have residents along 19 Mile Road," said Gieleghem.

According to him, the Township was supposed to vote on where to build the power lines on Monday, but it was postponed, once again, until April 28.

Gieleghem said that on that date, ITC will present a plan to either implement the lines along 19 Mile, or Dalcoma he hopes it is Dalcoma.

"We know that we need to come up with a solution for them," said Gieleghem. "But its got to be a solution thats workable for everybody."