In the quiet of a Thursday morning in Bear Creek Township, Michigan, the life of 66-year-old Steven Michael Krussel came to an abrupt and violent end. On September 17, 2026, deputies from the Emmet County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence around 11:12 a.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr. Krussel had been fatally shot. The scene was quickly secured by law enforcement, and they assured the public that there was no ongoing threat to the community.
Investigators promptly identified a person of interest who was taken into custody for questioning regarding the incident. This individual was later identified as 73-year-old Charles Hudson Butcher III, a resident of Petoskey. Following his arrest, Butcher was charged with open murder in connection with the shooting death of Steven Krussel. While the specific circumstances that led to the fatal encounter have not been officially released by law enforcement, the investigation was described as active and ongoing, with detectives processing the scene and conducting interviews. A comment on social media from an individual identifying as Krussel's cousin suggested that he was unarmed at the time of the incident and that the suspect was the one who placed the 911 call.
Steven Michael Krussel, born on April 17, 1960, was remembered as a hardworking and determined man with a variety of skills, including drywalling and landscaping. He was a 1979 graduate of Petoskey High School and had a passion for the outdoors, enjoying activities like hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. His obituary described him as a man who cherished spending time with family and friends. The case against Charles Hudson Butcher III will proceed through the legal system, where the full details of the events leading to Krussel's death are expected to be presented. As of late September 2026, the charge against Butcher remains an allegation, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The investigation by the Emmet County Sheriff's Office continues, and further information will be made public as it becomes available.
