Michigan dad, son found dead in camper; murder-suicide probe underway: Reports

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A missing father and son were found deceased inside a camper in Isabella County, Michigan, earlier this week, resulting in a murder-suicide investigation, according to reports.

The local sheriff's office said the child, identified as a 6-year-old, was reported missing on Monday , according to local outlet WNEM. His mother informed authorities that the boy was with the father and was supposed to be returned to her care following the custody visit.

Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main told another local outlet, WPBN, that deputies did not locate them at the father's residence. In addition, family members were not able to reach them for 24 hours.

According to the reports, this prompted a relative to break the window of a camper on the father's property on Wednesday.

"The family arrived at the property and began to look for the two. A family member decided to break out a window on a camper that was in the rear of the property," the sheriff's office said in a statement, per Fox 2 "Once that occurred, they could see a male that appeared to be deceased ."

USA TODAY reached out to the Isabella County Sheriff's Office for comment.

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Authorities confirm death of father, son

Main said that the family member discovered that the 48-year-old father was dead, the outlets reported. When authorities arrived, they used a tool to force entry into the camper.

Authorities found both the father and the son with gunshot wounds and determined that the man had committed suicide after fatally striking the child, according to the reports.

Isabella County Sheriff's Office and  Michigan State Police Crime Lab are investigating the matter.

The father and son's identities have not been made public. Isabella County is about 80 miles from Grand Rapids.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan dad, son found dead in camper; murder-suicide probe underway: Reports