In the small community of Hillman, Michigan, the morning of August 7, 2016, was shattered by a tragic event that claimed the life of 30-year-old Danielle Rae Klein. A mother and a familiar face in the neighboring town of Atlanta, her life was cut short in a brutal act of violence that stunned those who knew her. The incident unfolded at the Hillman residence of her ex-boyfriend, 38-year-old Eric Shay.
Danielle had gone to Shay's home that morning to drop off their 22-month-old daughter.
The couple had recently separated following an incident of domestic violence that had led to Shay's arrest. Although a no-contact order had been in place, it was dismissed after the legal proceedings concluded. As Danielle was getting out of her vehicle, Shay attacked her, shooting her multiple times.
After fatally wounding Danielle, Shay contacted a member of her family to come and get the child. Once the child was safe, he then used the same weapon to take his own life. Law enforcement from the Michigan State Police and the Montmorency County Sheriff's Department arrived to find both Danielle and Shay deceased at the scene. The investigation that followed confirmed the events as a murder-suicide, a tragic end to a history of domestic turmoil.
The community was left to grapple with the sudden loss. Danielle was remembered as a dedicated mother to her son and daughter, with a passion for horses that she expressed through her active involvement in 4-H and the Montmorency County Fair Board. She was a receptionist at Otsego Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic in Lewiston, known for her ever-present smile. Her death left a void in the lives of her children, family, and the close-knit community she called home.
