In the quiet community of Sanford, Michigan, a tragic event unfolded on the evening of December 5, 2016, ending in the death of 67-year-old Rayton Dale Nies. The male victim was shot and killed in his home in Jerome Township. The incident was later determined by the Midland County Sheriff's Office to be a murder-suicide.
The sole suspect in the shooting was identified as Rayton's 28-year-old daughter, Stephanie Ann Nies.
Concerns for Rayton's safety arose after he made a 911 call reporting that his daughter was at his residence with a loaded gun. Shortly after, a second 911 call was placed by Rayton's son, who tragically reported that his father had been shot.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene to find Rayton Dale Nies deceased from a gunshot wound to the chest. An immediate search for Stephanie Nies began. Authorities located her vehicle in the early hours of the following morning on a nearby road. Inside, they discovered Stephanie deceased from a single gunshot wound, which was determined to be self-inflicted. The weapon believed to have been used in both shootings, a 12-gauge shotgun, was recovered from her car.
Investigations into the motive for the murder-suicide pointed towards a dispute between the father and daughter. It was reported that Stephanie was upset with her father over the euthanization of her dog. This tragic event left the community in shock and highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic disputes. As the perpetrator died by suicide, there were no arrests or subsequent trial.
