GANGES TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - A relaxing morning routine turned into a scene out of a True Crime show for one West Michigan woman who found a body on the Lake Michigan shoreline while enjoying coffee out on her deck.
Sally Tyler -- who lives in the 2200 block of Lakeshore Drive between West Side County Park and Pier Cove Park in Allegan County's Ganges Township -- told FOX 17 that she didn't believe what she was seeing at first when she saw something strange on the beach from her back deck early Wednesday (Feb, 14) morning.
"I thought it was an animal on the beach, and then I kind of realized it wasn't," Tyler told FOX 17.
She went down to the beach in the event her eyes were tricking her, but as she got close, Tyler said she was confronted with the realization that she had found a dead body along the shoreline.
"Then, I immediately ran up and called the police," Tyler said.
Deputies with the Allegan County Sheriff's Office responded to the location, described as a section of private beachfront property.
According to deputies, a deceased male was observed on the shoreline unclothed aside from a pair of size 12 brown leather Converse All Star shoes and/or boots.
"The body appeared to have been in the water for some time prior to washing on shore overnight," the sheriff's office said in an update to their social media.
An identification on the body has not been made yet due to its condition, which deputies attributed to the time it appeared to have spent in the water before washing shore.
The body was recovered from its location on Wednesday morning with the assistance of Michigan State Police and the Saugatuck Fire Department.
It is now in the possession of the Medical Examiner's office who will determine an official cause of death and an identification.
Tyler said police promised to keep her updated on the case once they found out more to help provide some closure.
"Hopefully I do hear something because it was a bizarre situation," she added.
Investigators are treating the case as a suspicious death, but stated there were no clear signs of foul play.
Anyone with any information that would be helpful in identifying this individual has been asked to contact Lieutenant Mike Brown (269) 673-0442.
