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Missing South Haven man found dead; investigated as a homicide

Posted at 5:31 PM, Jul 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-13 22:42:37-04

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. – A man from South Haven, who was first reported missing over the weekend, was found dead near a rural Barry County road.

Police say the body of Matt Morin was found Tuesday about 50 yards off Pine Lake Road in Delton. Police say a tip from a citizen lead them to the discovery of Morin’s body.

FOX 17 News spoke with a close friend of Morin about the missing person case becoming a homicide investigation.

“I’m just boggled by it, I can’t put it into words,” says Terry Conklin, a friend of Morin's. “He would do anything for anybody, give them the shirt of his back if they needed it. He was just a good dude.”

Morin was first reported missing Saturday, leading police to search his Briar Hills Apartment.

“We’ve executed a couple of search warrants one at Mr. Morin’s residence,” says South Haven Police Officer Kevin Wildey. “We obtained some paper work that led us on the trail of who he might have been with.”

Social media and surveillance video helped police with their investigation. On Monday,  a traffic stop led to the arrest of a man who was driving Morin’s car. That person was arrested on an unrelated charge but is now a person of interest in the homicide case.

The medical examiner says the cause of death is pending autopsy results. Police say the person of interest and the victim knew each other, but that they were associates, not friends.

“He had a huge heart, he may have been a little rough around the edges but he had a huge heart. He was just a great guy he is going to be very much missed,” Conklin said.

Investigators say they’re looking for at least one more person of interest in this case.

Michigan State Police are assisting in this investigation and they’re asking for the public’s help for more information. If you have any information on this investigation, call South Haven police at (269) 657-3101.