The tragic, untimely death of WSJM News Anchor Denise Bohn has been pegged as murder by Michigan State Police, who say that her husband, Eric Stewart then turned the gun on himself committing suicide in the family home south of St. Joseph early this morning leaving the couple's three children to find the aftermath.
Michigan State Police Sgt. Ryan Schoonveld delivered the news to us, saying, "We did find a firearm at the scene which we believe was used." He says Denise was located upstairs and her husband was located downstairs, "with the weapon." He also notes that the three children were not hurt and are now being cared for by Denise's many friends and family members.
Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Chuck Christensen says there was evidence of domestic problems between the couple in the home and one of the neighbors told authorities on the scene that several gunshots had been heard before police were dispatched to the home shortly after 6:30am this morning.
The family lived on Wyndwicke Drive in St. Joseph, and Denise's three children were at the front door when police arrived on the scene.
Denise was a colleague here at Mid-West Family Broadcasting in St. Joseph, as co-host of the Denise & Jonny in the Morning show on 98.3 The Coast and also creator and anchor of the weekly video news dispatch, The WSJM Week in Review. She was a breast cancer survivor and tireless advocate for eradication of the disease. She was only 45 at the time of her death.
Eric Stewart was 51 years old and had worked for nearly 30-years for American Electric Power Company as a maintenance supervisor at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman. The company issued a statement this afternoon saying: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this terrible news, as well as with all of our employees. We have made grief counselors available to our employees. We're still processing this ourselves."
Grief counselors have visited with staff members of Mid-West Family Broadcasting as well.
The outpouring of response has been overwhelming, including from top legislators from the district:
Congressman Fred Upton said: "Today our community is reeling from the tragic news of the passing of Denise Bohn Stewart. Denise was a beloved community leader who folks of all stripes looked up to. She was full of love and life, a friend as well as a respected professional, a breast cancer survivor, and a passionative advocate for breast cancer awareness. Amey and I are sending our prayers to her colleagues at WSJM, her family, and particularly to her three children."
State Senator John Proos said: “I was devastated this morning to learn of the news of the passing of my friend, community leader and journalist Denise Bohn-Stewart. Denise was full of love for her family, friends and community. She was a cancer survivor, a passionate advocate for breast cancer research and always a professional. My prayers are with her family, and most especially, her three children.”
Proos had worked with Bohn-Stewart for many years both in her capacity as a broadcaster and as a promoter of breast cancer awareness legislation.
State Representative Al Pscholka issued these remarks: “Denise Bohn was my friend for 25 years. We covered local meetings at competing radio stations in the early 1990s. She was a great mother, award-winning broadcaster, cancer survivor and one of my best friends. Sue and I are praying for her family and children with heavy hearts during this tragic time.”
The "selfie" shared on this story is from Denise's Facebook page showing her one of her kids at a Michigan State University football game last fall. (Sincere apologies for an earlier version of this story that incorrectly identified the family, when in reality one of the children in the picture was simply a friend, not a family member.)
To read more about the life of our dear friend Denise Bohn, please click this link:
