Michigan family of 4 dead in apparent murder-suicide after judge denies protection order
Authorities in Michigan said they are investigating an apparent murder-suicide that left four family members dead nearly two weeks after a judge denied one of the relatives a protection order.
The Roscommon County Sheriff's Department identified the dead as Tirany Lee Savage, 35, her husband Bo Eugene Savage, 35, her son Dayton Cowdrey, 13, and her mother Kim Lynnette Ebright, 58.
The sheriff's office reported that during the early morning of July 10, deputies from the department responded to a home in Houghton Lake, about 125 miles north of Lansing, after two people reported finding four bodies there.
Undersheriff Ben Lowe told USA TODAY the people who went to the house in a residential subdivision were friends of Tirany Savage.
Deputies found all four victims inside the home and determined they died from apparent gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the sheriff's office, who called the crime a "horrific and senseless tragedy."
Officials said they believe the quadruple homicide is an isolated incident and no further danger to the community exists, the release reads.
Lowe did not identify the shooter but on Thursday told USA TODAY the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
He also told USA TODAY the sheriff's office had previously responded to the home for domestic-related incidents. Lowe said he could not release additional information due to the pending investigation.
"There was a long-term relationship involved and we did have prior dealings with this couple," he said. “It would not be prudent to comment on those issues until (the) investigation is complete and evidence has been processed.”
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A denied protection order
On June 23, Tirany Savage, filed for an order of protection in Michigan’s 34th Circuit Court, claiming her husband recently bought a gun, repeatedly threatened suicide and refused to leave the family’s home, according to court documents obtained by NBC affiliate WPBN.
She also wrote in the petition that her husband was threatening to kill or harm her.
“I do not want my safety or my son’s safety in jeopardy,” she wrote in the order obtained by the outlet.
Three days later a judge denied her petition, the outlet reported, claiming, "insufficient evidence of a showing of immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage."
The judge, Troy Daniel, wrote that the woman could request the restraining order in divorce court, the documents show.
On July 7 – three days before her death – the woman filed for divorce, the outlet reported.
The case remained under investigation on Thursday, a sheriff's spokeswoman told USA TODAY.
An autopsy will determine the victims cause and manner of death.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
Contributing: The Associated Press.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan family dead in murder-suicide after protection order denied
