Family of eight including six kids dead in Michigan beach house fire – as cops investigate ‘suspicious’ blaze
A family of eight have been found dead in a burned-up home close to the banks of Lake Michigan, and some had gunshot wounds, police have said.
Two adults and six children perished amid an inferno at a property in Grand Haven Township, west Michigan on Friday morning.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office described the fire as ‘suspicious’, and detectives are considering whether the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.
Captain Jacob Sparks said the children ranged in age from about five to 15 years old. Their names have not yet been released, but police confirmed they were a family.
‘It’s too early for me to say that it’s a murder-suicide,’ Sparks told reporters outside the home on Friday evening.
‘I can tell you that that’s one theory that we have and we’re still looking to see if we can verify that.’
Sparks added that autopsies will be conducted on Saturday.
He said that although some of the victims suffered gunshot wounds, police are investigating whether ‘other means’ were also involved.
A family of eight have died in a house fire close to the banks of Lake Michigan – and police are investigating the blaze as ‘suspicious’
The fire unfolded on the 14900 block of Riverside Trail in Grand Haven Township, Michigan
‘It would be premature for me to say what caused their deaths,’ Sparks said.
Deputies and fire crews initially responded to 911 calls between 8.30am and 9am as residents from nearby streets reported a strong smell of smoke.
Crews scoured the area but could not find the source at the time.
Fire crews rushed back to the scene at noon after more people reported seeing white smoke rising from a home on the 14900 block of Riverside Trail.
Firefighters extinguished the flames, and uncovered eight bodies inside the property.
The investigation is ongoing. Officials are yet to disclose the cause of the fire.
This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.
