Michael White (courtesy photo)
WYOMING, Mich. — Family members are struggling with the loss of a son and brother. Police have identified the victim as 16-year-old Michael White of Wyoming, whose body was found in Lions Park in Wyoming early Saturday morning. The death is being treated as a homicide.
White was a junior at Wyoming High School.
"He did anything I asked, he was so helpful," said Michaela Tran, Michael's sister. "I just don't get it."
A neighbor was walking his dog Saturday morning around 11:19 a.m. when the dog began pulling the man to an unusual path. That path lead the neighbor to White's body. Nearby neighbors called police who would later pronounce White dead on the scene.
"He had a love for a lot of different people and saw the good in everybody," said another family member. "He's a very free spirit, very in touch with nature. He loved fishing and hunting."
Family members tell FOX 17 the park was a familiar place for White.
"That was a common place where they would hang out," said Tran. "He had friends over there."
Andre Ramos knew White for more than a year. He says the two quickly became close.
"This caught me way off guard. It was a real big shock to me and it kind of got to me really hard," said Ramos.
As a family begins to come to terms with his death, his sister remembers the last time she saw her brother. "I asked him for a hug, because I was having a hard day," said Tran. "He walked across the big long hallway and gave me a hug. We just held each other for a long time, and I got to tell him I loved him."
Police have a suspect in custody who, they say, knew White. The suspect is 15-years-old.
An autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning to determine the official cause of death.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Wyoming Police Department at 616-530-7300.
