What Happened ?
Tragedy shook the small town of Lee Township, Michigan on Saturday, January 7th when Cindy Clouse and Roger Kyle Hagger, as well as their two children aged 10 and 13 were found dead. Initially believing it to be an act of murder-suicide, officials called for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death and determine who was responsible. A man visiting his family members became concerned when no one answered the door and had to call 911. News about Cindy Clouse and Roger Kyle Hagger’s death are accompanied with shock waves and prayers for the families involved. It remains unclear what could have motivated their fatal decision, but it is clear that the community mourns their loss deeply.
The Impact of Homicides and Suicides in Michigan
The impact of this horrific act will reverberate throughout the community for some time to come. According to an article from The Detroit News, “Michigan saw 1,746 homicides and 1,073 suicides in 2016 — more than 2,800 deaths” (2017). That number has only increased since then with 3,622 homicides listed between 2017 – 2019 according to data collected by The Detroit News (2020). This lends further evidence to the fact that there is an epidemic of violence within our state that needs to be addressed.
Prevention Efforts
In order to prevent these types of tragedies from occurring it is important that mental health awareness and access to appropriate services increases statewide. It is also imperative that we as a society create an atmosphere where those who are struggling can seek help without fear or judgement. Furthermore, gun control measures must be put in place as well as educational resources for people about how to access said services should they find themselves in need of them. These steps taken together can help decrease the number of homicides and suicides occurring within our state line each year.
This heartbreaking incident serves as yet another reminder of how fragile life can be and how important it is that we all take steps towards creating a safer environment for everyone who lives here in Michigan so that no other family has to go through such pain and heartache again. Mental health awareness is key for helping individuals get the assistance they need before such tragic events occur and hopefully with more education on prevention and intervention along with increased access to resources these necessary steps will be taken sooner rather than later so that future generations may not have to face such sorrows again.