Russell William Delonge, a 64-year-old White/Caucasian male from Gaylord, Michigan, was fatally shot on the evening of June 12, 2025. Known to his friends and family as Russ, he was born in Detroit, MI, on April 17, 1961. Those who knew him described him as a friendly, funny, and generous man with a laugh that could be heard from a mile away. He worked from home as a job recruiter, helping people find their dream jobs.
His interests included classic and modern cars, dogs, and firearms.
On the evening of his death, Michigan State Police troopers from the Gaylord Post were dispatched to a residence in Hayes Township around 8:10 p.m. Inside the home on Smugglers Pass Road, they found Russell William Delonge deceased from a gunshot wound. Delonge resided at the home with a 70-year-old man, who was present when the troopers arrived at the scene.
The man who lived with Delonge was identified as Michael Haley. He was arrested at the scene without incident. The following day, on June 13, 2025, Michael Haley, 70, was arraigned in Otsego County's 87-A District Court. He was charged with a single count of homicide. A judge entered a not guilty plea on Haley's behalf and set his bond at $100,000 cash or surety. A court-appointed attorney was approved for Haley, and a preliminary examination was scheduled for June 26.
