Man killed in Muskegon remembered for ‘big heart’

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) — Muskegon police say two people are facing open murder charges after a man’s body was found in his vehicle.

According to a release from the Muskegon Police Department, 63-year-old Michael Farmer was reported missing on July 1 from the 2000 block of Jarman Street, near E Keating Avenue in Muskegon Heights.

A week later, on July 8, police say Farmer’s body was found in his vehicle, located on the 900 block of Fleming Avenue, near Winters Street in Muskegon.

Farmer’s family said it was news that no person ever wants to receive.

“It was hard, you know, it was unbelievable,” Michael’s daughter Keysha Farmer said. “I didn’t think anything like that would ever happen to us, especially to our dad.”

Keysha Farmer added that her dad was a loving man who always took care of others before himself.

“He was very respectful; he was a determined, hardworking man. He was a man that everybody wanted to be around and that’s why so many people knew him because he just had a big heart. He just wanted to help everybody. His biggest thing was he just made sure everybody was OK before he thought about himself,” she said.

His stepson D’Moni Johnson agreed saying, “he would always like make sure that I was OK or that I was safe.”

The Muskegon Police Department, Muskegon Heights Police Department and Michigan State Police have been investigating the death as a homicide, according to the release. Police say they learned the homicide happened at the Jarman Street address in Muskegon Heights.

On Wednesday, investigators announced that two people — 36-year-old Robert Reed, of Muskegon Heights, and 41-year-old Leland Snyder, of Muskegon — have been taken into custody and are facing open murder charges in the case.

Eric Bordeaux is a neighbor in the area. He told News 8 that he saw the car in an alley behind his house on his security cameras and immediately called the police.  He said he was shocked.

“I couldn’t believe this craziness is happening this close to home.” he said. “Now knowing what happened until now, its good that we know, I am glad that someone got caught. But like I said not knowing if someone is out there in the neighborhood watching stuff, that made me quite nervous.”

If you know anything, you’re asked to call Muskegon police at 231.724.6750 or Silent Observer at 231.722.7463.

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