In the quiet woods of Marenisco Township, Michigan, the life of 49-year-old Thomas Fletcher was brought to a tragic and violent end on Christmas Eve of 2021. A male resident of the area, Fletcher was at a cabin when the sound of gunshots shattered the peace of the holiday. When sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered Fletcher deceased inside the cabin.
Another man, 22-year-old Austin Fletcher, was also found at the cabin with a gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the arrest of Nicholas Millard, a 30-year-old man from Pennsylvania. Millard was taken into custody and subsequently faced serious charges in connection with the incident. He was arraigned in the 98th District Court of Gogebic County on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder, and felony firearm offenses. Following his arraignment, Millard was held at the Gogebic County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.
The motive for the deadly shooting has not been publicly disclosed by law enforcement officials as the investigation continues. The community was left to mourn the loss of Thomas Fletcher, who was remembered by his family as a loving husband and father with a passion for the outdoors. His son, Austin, who survived the shooting, recalled his father as the toughest man he knew. The legal proceedings against Nicholas Millard were set to continue in the new year, with a court hearing scheduled for early January 2022.
