MONROE COUNTY, Mich. – Police said they found something that could help with their investigation inside the car where two 16-year-olds were found dead in Monroe County.
Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough held a press conference on Wednesday to update what happened. He also touched on a possible murder-suicide in Bedford Township.
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You can watch the full press conference in the video below:
Teens found dead
At around 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 17, deputies learned that two people were found dead on Heiss Road near Steffas Road in Raisinville Township.
When deputies got there, they said they found two 16-year-olds -- Faith Renee Hamilton and Landon Bryan Lafond -- dead in the road outside a car. The teens had been shot, police said.
Victim’s uncle found teens, called dispatch
The sheriff said Faith’s uncle was the one who called police.
Investigators believe the uncle used a phone app to track Faith’s location, leading him to scene.
Writings found in car
Inside the car, detectives found some sort of written material outlining a plan to “take both his and Faith’s life.”
The two teens were apparently dating and had communicated with each other earlier that day.
While Faith is considered a victim and Landon is considered the suspect, the sheriff’s office is not labeling this incident as a murder-suicide at this time. Police are still waiting on the coroner’s report for the official cause and manner of death.
At this point in the investigation, it’s also unclear if Landon drove Faith or if she arrived at the location in another way.
Bedford Township case
The sheriff also said that this case isn’t connected to the potential murder-suicide in Bedford Township involving a bowling coach and a 17-year-old girl.
Even though Bedford Public Schools and Airport Community Schools are out of session for the summer, both have activated crisis response teams to provide support for the community.
The superintendent of Airport Community Schools released the following statement:
Dear Jet Families,
It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I share the tragic news of the passing of two of our students. The Airport Community Schools family is mourning this unimaginable loss, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.
During times like this, the strength of our community is more important than ever. Our district crisis response team has been activated, and grief counselors are available for students, staff, and families who need support. We encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out- we are here to help each other through this. Support from our crisis team, along with the Monroe ISD team will be available in the high school media center tomorrow, Thursday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We also ask that you keep the families in your thoughts and respect their privacy as they navigate this incredibly difficult time.
This is a time for compassion, support, and unity. Please take care of yourselves and one another as we grieve together.
Ryan Duvall, Superintendent of Airport Community Schools