In the early morning hours of July 24, 2018, a tragedy unfolded in West Olive, Michigan, ending the life of 53-year-old Sherrilee Suzzanne McNeal. The grim discovery was made after gunshots shattered the quiet of the rural property on Barry Street. Inside the home, the couple's 17-year-old son was online gaming with friends when he heard the fatal sounds. He went to investigate and found a horrific scene, prompting him to tell his friends to call 911. When deputies from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office arrived shortly after 3:30 a.m., they found Sherrilee McNeal deceased inside a horse trailer on the property. She had been shot to death.
The primary suspect, her husband, 55-year-old Michael Scott McNeal, was found nearby in the yard with a severe, self-inflicted gunshot wound to his face. Investigators quickly pieced together a narrative of a domestic dispute that had escalated to a murder and attempted suicide. It was determined that Michael had shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. Evidence suggested the couple had been experiencing significant strife in their relationship. Sherrilee had reportedly moved out of the main residence and was living in the trailer on their property. Neighbors later told police they had heard heated arguments between the couple in the past.
Michael McNeal survived his suicide attempt and was hospitalized under guard. A warrant for open murder was issued while he was still receiving medical care. Upon his release from the hospital on August 14, 2018, he was taken to the Ottawa County Jail. He was arraigned the following day on charges of open murder and felony firearm, and the judge denied bond. During the investigation, detectives learned that Michael believed Sherrilee was having an online affair. He told investigators that on the morning of the shooting, he found his wife in the trailer and believed she was communicating with another man, which prompted him to retrieve a rifle from a barn and shoot her.
The case proceeded to trial, where further details emerged. A medical examiner testified that Sherrilee McNeal had been shot three times with a bolt-action rifle, with the fatal shot striking her neck. In October 2018, a jury found Michael McNeal guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearms charges. During his sentencing on January 14, 2019, the judge noted a history of violent behavior, including past abuse allegations. Michael McNeal was sentenced to serve 45 to 75 years in prison for the murder of his wife.
