Man Found Shot Or Beaten To Death In Brown Park

Man found shot or beaten to death in Brown Park

By SUSAN OPPAT
NEWS STAFF REPORTER

A jogger and his dog early today found an unidentified man bludgeoned or shot to death in Brown Park in Pittsfield Township.

The victim, believed to be in his 20s, apparently was killed at the side of an asphalt path during the night and dragged across the path about 25 feet into a wooded area, police said.

A patch of blood was discovered in the grass where police believe the man was killed, and blood stains and marks show where he was pulled into the woods. The victim, who apparently suffered massive head wounds, was partially covered by brush and leaves.

Pittsfield Township Police Chief John R. Santomauro said the man’s right front pants pocket was pulled out and emptied, but officers did not want to disturb the crime scene before crime lab technicians arrived for further investigation.

Pittsfield Township and Ann Arbor investigators were awaiting the arrival of Michigan Crime Lab investigators from Northville to determine the cause of death and whether the victim was carrying identification.

Brown Park is leased by the city of Ann Arbor, but is located in Pittsfield Township. The site of the murder is located several hundred yards from a small playground area, behind the Mill Creek Townhouses on Birch Hollow Road.

Santomauro said the man does not match any missing persons reports.

Ann Arbor officer Joe Winter, just right of center, and Pittsfield Township police chief John Santomauro, far right join murder investigators at Brown Park along a path where blood was found.
NEWS PHOTO • JACK STUBBS

Map indicates where body was found
NEWS MAP