Suspicious Deaths in Bridgman

SUSPICIOUS DEATHS

DATE/TIME:        9-16-17 @ 12:47pm

LOCATION:         9753 Baldwin Rd., City of Bridgman, MI

ASSISTING AGENCIES:    Baroda-Lake Twp. PD, Berrien Co. Sheriff’s Dept. Detectives & Crime Scene Investigation Unit along with Medic-1 Ambulance.

VICTIMS:              #1           Donald James Ackerman, 63 yrs. old (gunshot wound)

                                #2           Pamela Sue Ackerman, 67 yrs. old (gunshot wound)

DETAILS:              The Bridgman Police Department is investigating (2) suspicious deaths at the above address.  Sgt. Tom LaVanway was requested by a family member to check on the welfare of the victims as they had not been heard from in the past few days.

Once Sgt. LaVanway arrived, he made entry into the residence & discovered both victims deceased.  The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau and Crime Scene Technicians were requested to assist our department in the investigation. 

Preliminarily, the deaths appear to be possibly murder-suicide.  The incident remains under investigation & autopsies will be performed in the next few days.

No further information at this time.

*** UPDATE ***

9-19-17

Autopsies were performed on both subjects on 9-18-17 at the Western Michigan University School of Medicine in Kalamazoo.

Both subjects died from gunshot wounds.

Donald Ackerman sustained (1) gunshot to the head.

Pamela Ackerman sustained (2) gunshots to the head.

Investigators believe that Donald Ackerman shot his wife before taking his own life.

There is no further information to report at this time.  Once the report is completed, it will be forwarded to the Berrien County Prosecutor for review which is standard procedure.

Chief Daniel Unruh

Bridgman Police Department