MSP Investigates Arson/Suicide in St. Ignace

Mackinac County, Michigan. On 2/21/2025 at approximately 3:00 pm, troopers from the
Michigan State Police (MSP) St. Ignace Post responded to a welfare check at a residence on
Portage Street in Moran Township. As troopers arrived and were outside the residence, the
house suddenly erupted in flames. The fire spread rapidly and is believed to have been fueled
by an accelerant.

As the fire intensified, suspected gunshots were heard from within the residence. Due to the
danger posed by the fire, troopers could not immediately enter the home. The St. Ignace Fire
Department was immediately requested, and they responded to extinguish the fire. The house
was a complete loss.

After the fire was put out, MSP Fire Investigation Unit personnel responded to the scene to
assist. MSP Crime Lab personnel responded to help process the scene, and the MSP Bomb
Squad responded to be available if any suspicious devices were located due to the speed at
which the fire had started.

A search of the residence resulted in locating the body of a single deceased individual, believed
to be the adult male homeowner. The preliminary investigation indicates that the fire was
deliberately set. The fire and the suspected gunshots appear to have been a self-inflicted effort
by the homeowner to take his own life.  Another adult known to reside at the home was not
present during the incident and remains unharmed. Nobody else is believed to have been in the
residence when the fire started. No other bodies or suspicious devices were discovered.

MSP will continue to investigate this incident, including forensically processing the evidence and
having a forensic autopsy completed.

The name of the deceased subject is not being released at this time.

MSP was assisted by the St. Ignace Fire Department, Mackinac County Sheriff’s Department, St. Ignace Police Department, Straits Area EMS, and Chippewa County Dispatch.