Amasa, MI: Nursing student killed

By Jenny Lancour
POSTED: October 1, 2009 Save | Print | Email
AMASA - A couple, found dead in their Iron County home Tuesday afternoon, have been identified as victims of a murder-suicide tragedy, according to police officials.

Investigation revealed Max Grengs, 64, killed his wife Shelly Grengs, 45, with a firearm and then shot and killed himself, according to Iron County Sheriff Mark Valesano.

Iron County deputies responded to the 3:32 p.m. 9-1-1 emergency call reporting a possible homicide at 248 W. Townline Road in Hematite Township where the two bodies were found.

"It's a tragic case of domestic violence being taken to the ultimate level of killing your spouse and taking your own life," Valesano said this morning in a telephone interview with the Daily Press.

What made the deaths even more tragic is the couple left behind a young family, the sheriff added. Max and Shelly are parents of five children with the oldest being 17. The husband also had two older children.

Shelly was a Bay College nursing student at the Bay West Campus in Iron Mountain, according to college officials. She was scheduled to graduate with an associate degree in nursing in December. Grief counseling is available at both campuses in Iron Mountain and Escanaba.

Assisting deputies at the scene were Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Iron County Victim Advocate Team, Northstar Emergency Medical Services, and Child Protective Services.

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