A 6-year-old boy reported missing on Monday in Michigan was found dead on Wednesday alongside his father — apparently the victim in a murder-suicide.
Rowan Morey’s mother called police on Monday when his father, 48-year-old Michael Steven Winchell, failed to bring the boy home on time, the Morning Sun reported.
Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main said that deputies went to Winchell’s home several times but didn’t find anyone there. They began contacting Winchell’s friends and relatives, Main said, and none of them were able to contact him.
Deputies searched throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, when family members arrived on scene and found an isolated camper on the rear of the property. One of them broke out a window in the camper and spotted Winchell, apparently dead.
Deputies arrived on scene and entered the camper, where they found both Winchell and Morey dead. Investigators say Winchell gunned down his 6-year-old son before killing himself.
The boy’s mother and stepfather released a statement to WJRT thanking the community for help in the search.
“Our hearts are broken, and we can’t comprehend how to move on from this,” the statement said. “We will take time to grieve but ask the community for their continued help and ask you to join us in demanding more to protect our children.”
