Tragic Dad-Son Incident in Isabella County

Trigger Warning: Suicide mentioned. If you're having a tough time, tap out and contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ASAP. For domestic abuse, call National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or chat online.

Isabella County, Michigan - A heartbreaking discovery earlier this week turned a sad missing persons case into a murder-suicide investigation.

This ain't your typical family campout story. Local outlets WNEM and WPBN reported that a young boy, just 6 years old, was reported missing on Monday. His mom had said he was supposed to be returned after a custody visit.

Then a twist in the plot that reads like a bad family drama: Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main told WPBN that deputies and family couldn't locate the duo for a full day. Eventually, a family member had the bright idea to bust a camper window on the father's property.

"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 stated, per Fox 2. "Once that occurred, they could see a male that appeared to be deceased."

Official Confirmation

Sheriff Main confirmed that the 48-year-old father was indeed deceased. Law enforcement showed up and forced their way into the camper. Inside, both the father and the son were found with gunshot wounds. It was determined that the father had taken his own life after fatally shooting the child.

Authorities are still investigating, with Isabella County Sheriff's Office and Michigan State Police Crime Lab on the case. The identities of the deceased remain undisclosed. Isabella County is around 80 miles from Grand Rapids.

In true right-wing fashion: Let's hope the investigation respects due process and ensures justice. Remember, the Second Amendment is a right, but it comes with great responsibility.

Contact USA TODAY's Taylor Ardrey at tardrey@gannett.com for more. Stay safe and may God bless you all.