On the evening of November 29th, former Police Chief Gary Bucholtz kidnapped his ex-wife, Rhonda Bucholtz. Police discovered the bodies of Gary and Rhonda in Heb's Inn and Hotel [Mason, MI], the following day. Chief Bucholtz had murdered / shot his wife and then committed suicide.
Police are uncertain as to why Bucholtz drove Rhonda all the way from their hometown of Port Hope to Mason, MI
Sadly, this is not the first tragedy Rhonda's family has recently faced. On November 20th, Rhonda's nephew Brent Tinsley [Ubly, MI], was murdered. The case is still under investigation.
Missing persons case could have ties to a murder-suicide
ABC12 News
Nov 30, 2011
http://www.abc12.com/story/16160902/missing-person-case-could-have-ties-to-a-murder-suicide
HURON COUNTY (WJRT) -(11/30/11) - A missing persons search out of Huron County could be linked to what investigators are calling a suspected murder-suicide case in Ingham County.
The Huron County Sheriff's Department says Gary Bucholtz and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope were last seen Monday evening. Family members reported them missing Tuesday afternoon, expressing concern over marital issues between the couple.
Detectives were contacted by the Mason Police Department, south of Lansing, about two people found dead in a motel room. A van belonging to the Bucholtz's was parked in the lot.
Both victims died from gunshot wounds and a positive identification is pending.
Mason Police say it appears the man shot the woman and them himself
More details emerge regarding apparent murder-suicide involving former Bad Axe Police chief, wife
The Bay City Times
November 30, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2011/11/more_details_emerge_regarding.html
BAD AXE — Huron County investigators say they believe a man and woman found dead in an Ingham County motel room are a former Bad Axe Police chief and his wife.
Gary E. Bucholtz, 58, and his 38-year-old wife, Rhonda L. Bucholtz, were reported missing by family members who were “very concerned because of marital difficulties that had evolved over the last several months,” said Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson.
The couple, from Huron Township, are parents of a 5-year-old child.
Hanson could not comment on the nature of the nature of the couple’s troubles.
Local authorities were searching for the couple Tuesday when police in Mason, a town about 14 miles south of Lansing and 180 miles southwest of Port Hope, notified Hanson that they’d found the Bucholtz’s Chevrolet Uplander minivan in the parking lot of a motel where an apparent murder-suicide had occurred.
According to reports, Mason police suspect that Gary Bucholtz kidnapped his wife from somewhere in Huron County.
The couple reportedly checked into Heb’s Inn about 3 a.m. and were found dead of gunshot wounds about 12 hours later.
The Ingham County medical examiner has yet to make a positive identification.
Rhonda Bucholtz is an aunt of Brent Tinsey, the 20-year-old Ubly man who was found shot to death Nov. 20 in Sanilac County. The investigation into Tinsey's death is ongoing.
Gary Bucholtz’s brother is Gagetown Police Chief Gene Bucholtz.
BREAKING: Former Bad Axe Police Chief dies in what’s believed to be murder/suicide
Huron Daily Tribune
November 30, 2011
http://www.michigansthumb.com/articles/2011/11/30/news/local_news/doc4ed6bb39d3c17439737926.txt
MASON — Police are investigating a possible abduction that ended in a murder/suicide involving former Bad Axe Police Chief Gary E. Bucholtz and his estranged wife.
Bucholtz, who served as Bad Axe Police Chief for 10 years, and his wife, Rhonda, were found dead inside a motel room in Mason just southeast of Lansing on Tuesday afternoon. The Mason Police Department is handling the investigation, which is still on-going as of press time.
What is known at this time is a search for the couple began earlier this week by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson said Undersheriff Ron Roberts was contacted by family who reported the couple had been missing since Monday.
“Apparently, they had not been heard from since approximately 9 p.m. on Monday. Family members were very concerned because of marital difficulties that had evolved over the last several months. They were worried about the couple’s well-being,” said Hanson.
Police began following up on leads in an effort to attempt to track down the couple Tuesday afternoon.
“Leads were also followed up by the Bad Axe City Police Department, the Port Austin Village Police Department, the Michigan State Police in Sandusky and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office,“ Hanson said about their attempts to locate the couple. “We were able to uncover some new information, but nothing led to the whereabouts of the missing couple.”
At approximately 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Hanson said he updated the ‘Be on the Look-out’ B.O.L (LEIN Broadcast), which was asking for law enforcement agencies in the state for information about Bucholtz and his wife.
“At 11:20 p.m., I was contacted by the Mason Police Department. They advised they were working on an incident that possibly involved our missing couple. They stated they had a deceased male and female in a local motel room and the Port Hope couple’s Uplander van was in the parking lot,” said Hanson, who added Mason police had been working this incident since roughly 3 p.m. Tuesday and they were processing the scene and attempting to positively identify the deceased.
“Mason police advised the investigation into the couple’s death was suggesting the female may have been abducted from our county,” said Hanson.
“It appeared both died in the Mason motel room from gunshot wounds, possibly the result of a murder/suicide. Due to those wounds, the Ingham County Medical Examiner’s Office may need another day to wrap up the identification process.”
Hanson said the matter remains under investigation.
Mason Murder-Suicide Followed Kidnapping
Missing couple from Port Hope in Huron County believed to be victims in a murder-suicide Tuesday in Mason. Man was former police chief
WILX News
Nov 30, 2011
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/Mason_Murder-Suicide_Followed_Kidnapping_134787333.html
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/Mason_Murder-Suicide_Followed_Kidnapping_134787333.html
The victims in Tuesday's murder-suicide in Mason appear to be a married couple from Port Hope, a city right on Lake Huron in the thumb.
The Mason Police Department has been working with the Huron County Sheriff's Office and they believe the woman was kidnapped by her husband.
Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz-- who were having marital problems-- were reported missing by family Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. At the same time, 180 miles away, Mason police were discovering the bodies at Heb's Inn on Cedar Street.
Investigators discovered the Uplander mini-van in the parking lot belonged to the couple reported missing via a statewide alert system.
Gary Bucholtz was the former police chief in Bad Axe for 10 years.
Police say they checked in at 3 a.m. that morning and were found at 2:30 p.m. when no one answered the door.
The Ingham County Medical Examiner still has to positively identify the victims. That should be done Thursday or Friday.
Missing Port Hope couple believed dead in Mason motel room
The Bay City Times
November 30, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2011/11/missing_port_hope_couple_belie.html
BAD AXE — Huron County investigators say they believe a man and woman found dead in a Mason motel room are a Port Hope-area couple reportedly missing since Monday.
Gary E. and Rhonda L. Bucholtz of Huron Township were reported missing by family members who were “very concerned because of marital difficulties that had evolved over the last several months,” said Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson.
Undersheriff Ron Roberts, six deputies and Hanson began following leads, as did police in Bad Axe and Port Austin, state police from the Sandusky Detachment and St. Clair County Sheriff’s deputies.
“We were able to uncover some new information but nothing lead to the whereabouts of our missing couple,” said Hanson.
About 11 p.m. Tuesday, deputies put out a statewide be-on-the-lookout alert for the couple, said the sheriff.
Roughly 20 minutes later, police in Mason, located southeast of Lansing, advised that they found the couple’s Chevrolet Uplander van in the parking lot of a motel where an apparent murder-suicide had occurred earlier that day, said Hanson.
Mason police had been investigating the deaths since about 3 p.m. Tuesday.
As of this morning, positive identification still had not been made.
Mason investigators believe the woman was abducted from Huron County, said Hanson.
Both people died of gunshot wounds, he said.
Police rule deaths murder-suicide
Former Bad Axe police chief suspected of killing wife, self
Lansing State Journal
Nov. 30, 2011
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com
MASON - The Huron County sheriff said that investigators suspect that a former police chief abducted his estranged wife and drove her to a Mason motel, where he fatally shot her and himself.
Mason police found the bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope while conducting a welfare check Tuesday.
Gary Bucholtz was police chief for about 10 years in Bad Axe, a city of 3,500 in Huron County in the Thumb region.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said relatives contacted his department after the couple disappeared on Monday night.
A minivan belonging to the couple was parked outside the Mason motel room where a man and woman were found Tuesday shot to death, officials said.
Hanson told the Huron Daily Tribune in Bad Axe that investigators suspect that
Rhonda Bucholtz was abducted from Huron County and taken to the Mason motel.
Mason police have ruled the deaths a murder- suicide.
"We don't know for sure the time of death or why they were there," said Mason police Chief John Stressman. "We are still processing the evidence."
Family members reported that the couple had been having marital difficulties and they were concerned for their well-being, according to the sheriff's office.
On Tuesday night, Mason police contacted the Huron County sheriff's office, saying that the murder-suicide possibly involved the missing Huron County couple.
The couple checked into a room at Heb's Inn & Motel, on North Cedar Street near U.S. 127, at 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Police were alerted after the couple had not left at the 11 a.m. checkout time, Stressman said.
At about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to the motel for a welfare check, where they found the man and woman dead.
A cleaning person at the motel spoke to a man earlier in the day whom police believe was one of the deceased, Stressman said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Police release more details in Mason murder-suicide
Lansing State Journal
Dec. 1, 2011
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com
MASON — The former Huron County police chief who authorities say shot and killed his wife before killing himself inside a motel room had abducted her using “a variety of implements of restraint,” officials said today.
The bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope were found Tuesday inside a room at Heb’s Inn & Motel. Rhonda Bucholtz died from multiple handgun wounds to her face, according to a news release from Mason police.
Gary Bucholtz, who was a police chief in Bad Axe for about 10 years, died from a single shotgun wound to his head, police said.
Several “implements of restraint” were found inside the couple’s minivan and in the motel room, police said. Rhonda Bucholtz was found with an ankle restraint secured to one leg with the other end lying unsecured, police said.
Investigators believe Rhonda Bucholtz was abducted inside her Port Hope home. There was evidence she was restrained and concealed inside the minivan, police said.
How and why the couple ended up in Mason may never be known, the news release said.
Police Believe Man Who Shot Wife and Then Himself is Former Police Chief
9and10news.com
Lansing State Journal
Dec. 1, 2011
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com
MASON — The former Huron County police chief who authorities say shot and killed his wife before killing himself inside a motel room had abducted her using “a variety of implements of restraint,” officials said today.
The bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope were found Tuesday inside a room at Heb’s Inn & Motel. Rhonda Bucholtz died from multiple handgun wounds to her face, according to a news release from Mason police.
Gary Bucholtz, who was a police chief in Bad Axe for about 10 years, died from a single shotgun wound to his head, police said.
Several “implements of restraint” were found inside the couple’s minivan and in the motel room, police said. Rhonda Bucholtz was found with an ankle restraint secured to one leg with the other end lying unsecured, police said.
Investigators believe Rhonda Bucholtz was abducted inside her Port Hope home. There was evidence she was restrained and concealed inside the minivan, police said.
How and why the couple ended up in Mason may never be known, the news release said.
Police Believe Man Who Shot Wife and Then Himself is Former Police Chief
9and10news.com
December 01, 2011
http://www.9and10news.com/Category/Story/?id=312318&cID=1
A Michigan Sheriff says investigators suspect that a former police chief abducted his estranged wife, then shot and killed her before killing himself.
Mason Police found the bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz in a Lansing area hotel while conducting a welfare check on Tuesday.
Gary Bucholtz was police chief for about 10 years in Bad Axe, the couple lived in Port Hope.
Family members called police after the couple went missing on Monday night.
Ex-Bad Axe Police Chief Gary Bucholtz Killed Self, Estranged Wife: Huron County Police Say
Huffington Post
http://www.9and10news.com/Category/Story/?id=312318&cID=1
A Michigan Sheriff says investigators suspect that a former police chief abducted his estranged wife, then shot and killed her before killing himself.
Mason Police found the bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz in a Lansing area hotel while conducting a welfare check on Tuesday.
Gary Bucholtz was police chief for about 10 years in Bad Axe, the couple lived in Port Hope.
Family members called police after the couple went missing on Monday night.
Ex-Bad Axe Police Chief Gary Bucholtz Killed Self, Estranged Wife: Huron County Police Say
Huffington Post
December 01, 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/01/bucholtz-murder-suicide_n_1122969.html
Authorities in Michigan are investigating an apparent murder-suicide involving a former local police official and his estranged ex-wife.
Mason police say that they discovered two bodies late Tuesday night in a Lansing-area motel room, one allegedly belonging to retired Bad Axe police chief Gary Bucholtz and the other to his former spouse, Rhonda Bucholtz, according to a press release obtained by the Huffington Post.
Authorities began searching for the pair late Monday night after Bucholtz family members contacted the Huron County Sheriff's office.
"Apparently, they had not been heard from since approximately 9 p.m. on Monday," Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson told the Huron Daily Tribune. "Family members were very concerned because of marital difficulties that had evolved over the last several months. They were worried about the couple's well-being."
Hanson alerted regional law enforcement agencies to that the couple was missing.
Around 11:00 pm, Tuesday, Hanson received notification from Mason Police Department officials of a shooting incident approximately 110 miles southeast of Bad Axe, possibly involving the missing divorced couple.
"They stated they had a deceased male and female in a local motel room and the Port Hope couple’s Uplander van was in the parking lot," Hanson said.
Gary, 58, and Rhonda, 38, were parents of a five-year-old child, according to Bay City Times.
Police believe that Gary Bucholtz shot his ex-wife before killing himself, according to ABC-12.
As of Wednesday evening, the Ingham County Medical Examiner was still processing evidence and completing the identification process.
Current Bad Axe Police chief addresses apparent murder-suicide of predecessor, wife
The Bay City Times
December 01, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2011/12/current_bad_axe_police_chief_a.html
BAD AXE — The current chief of the Bad Axe Police Department has issued a brief statement regarding the apparent murder-suicide of former chief Gary E. Bucholtz and wife Rhonda L. Bucholtz.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Gary and Rhonda and we will support them during their time of grieving," Chief David Rothe said in the release. "We respect the family's privacy and will have no further comment at this time."
Bodies believed to be the Bucholtzes' were found in Heb's Inn in Mason Tuesday afternoon. Relatives reported they had not seen the Port Hope couple since around 9 p.m. Monday night.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson has said it appeared the couple died in their motel room from gunshot wounds. Evidence indicated Gary Bucholtz, 58, kidnapped his 38-year-old wife from Huron County, Hanson said.
The Mason Police Department is handling the investigation. Confirmation of the bodies' identities is to be released later today, pending the completion of autopsies.
Ex-Bad Axe police chief suspected of killing wife, self
WWMT TV News
December 01, 2011
http://www.wwmt.com/news/police-1398966-self-axe.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/01/bucholtz-murder-suicide_n_1122969.html
Authorities in Michigan are investigating an apparent murder-suicide involving a former local police official and his estranged ex-wife.
Mason police say that they discovered two bodies late Tuesday night in a Lansing-area motel room, one allegedly belonging to retired Bad Axe police chief Gary Bucholtz and the other to his former spouse, Rhonda Bucholtz, according to a press release obtained by the Huffington Post.
Authorities began searching for the pair late Monday night after Bucholtz family members contacted the Huron County Sheriff's office.
"Apparently, they had not been heard from since approximately 9 p.m. on Monday," Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson told the Huron Daily Tribune. "Family members were very concerned because of marital difficulties that had evolved over the last several months. They were worried about the couple's well-being."
Hanson alerted regional law enforcement agencies to that the couple was missing.
Around 11:00 pm, Tuesday, Hanson received notification from Mason Police Department officials of a shooting incident approximately 110 miles southeast of Bad Axe, possibly involving the missing divorced couple.
"They stated they had a deceased male and female in a local motel room and the Port Hope couple’s Uplander van was in the parking lot," Hanson said.
Gary, 58, and Rhonda, 38, were parents of a five-year-old child, according to Bay City Times.
Police believe that Gary Bucholtz shot his ex-wife before killing himself, according to ABC-12.
As of Wednesday evening, the Ingham County Medical Examiner was still processing evidence and completing the identification process.
Current Bad Axe Police chief addresses apparent murder-suicide of predecessor, wife
The Bay City Times
December 01, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2011/12/current_bad_axe_police_chief_a.html
BAD AXE — The current chief of the Bad Axe Police Department has issued a brief statement regarding the apparent murder-suicide of former chief Gary E. Bucholtz and wife Rhonda L. Bucholtz.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Gary and Rhonda and we will support them during their time of grieving," Chief David Rothe said in the release. "We respect the family's privacy and will have no further comment at this time."
Bodies believed to be the Bucholtzes' were found in Heb's Inn in Mason Tuesday afternoon. Relatives reported they had not seen the Port Hope couple since around 9 p.m. Monday night.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson has said it appeared the couple died in their motel room from gunshot wounds. Evidence indicated Gary Bucholtz, 58, kidnapped his 38-year-old wife from Huron County, Hanson said.
The Mason Police Department is handling the investigation. Confirmation of the bodies' identities is to be released later today, pending the completion of autopsies.
Ex-Bad Axe police chief suspected of killing wife, self
WWMT TV News
December 01, 2011
http://www.wwmt.com/news/police-1398966-self-axe.html
Mason police found the bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope while conducting a welfare check Tuesday.
MASON, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan sheriff says investigators suspect that a former police chief abducted his estranged wife and drove her to a Lansing-area motel, where he fatally shot her and
Mason police found the bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope while conducting a welfare check Tuesday.
Gary Bucholtz was police chief for about 10 years in Bad Axe, a city of 3,500 in Huron County in Michigan's rural Thumb region.
The motel is about 10 miles south-southeast of Lansing.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson says relatives contacted his department after the couple disappeared Monday night.
Hanson tells the Huron Daily Tribune in Bad Axe that investigators suspect Rhonda Bucholtz was abducted from Huron County and taken to the motel.
Report: Police say Huron County husband kidnapped wife before murder-suicide in Mason
MLive
December 01, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/12/report_police_say_huron_county.html
UPDATE: Police believe the pair is former Bad Axe police chief Gary Bucholtz and his wife Rhonda.
Police say a husband and wife found dead in what's been ruled a murder-suicide Tuesday in Mason were from Port Hope in Huron County.
WILX reports Mason police, who have been working with the Huron County Sheriff's Office, believe the man kidnapped his wife. They were both reported missing by their family Tuesday afternoon.
The pair was found dead at Herb's Inn along Cedar Street. WLIX reports the couple had been having marital problems.
It was the second murder-suicide in Mason in just a matter of days.
A man and woman were found dead on Thanksgiving at their home in the 400 block of Hanna Road. In that case, authorities said Timothy Hendricks, 53, used a pistol to shoot and kill his ex-wife, Deborah Hendricks, 62, before killing himself.
Both were found dead in a home in the 400 block of Hanna Road late Thursday.
WLIX reports the Ingham County Medical Examiner has yet to positively identify the victims of Tuesday's murder-suicide. Positive identification is expected on Thursday or Friday
Ex-Police Chief Suspected Of Killing Wife, Self
CBS - Detroit
December 1, 2011 7:26 AM
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/12/01/former-police-chief-suspected-of-killing-wife-self/
MASON (AP) - Investigators suspect that a former police chief abducted his estranged wife and drove her to a Lansing-area motel, where he fatally shot her and himself, a sheriff said Wednesday.
Mason police found bodies believed to be those of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope while conducting a welfare check Tuesday.
Gary Bucholtz was police chief in Bad Axe for about 10 years. The city has about 3,500 residents and is county seat of Huron County at the tip of Michigan’s heavily agricultural Thumb region. The motel is about 10 miles south-southeast of Lansing and about 110 miles southeast of Bad Axe.
The Huron Daily Tribune in Bad Axe reported that Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said relatives contacted his department after the couple disappeared. He said they had apparently not been heard from since about 9 p.m. Monday.
“Family members were very concerned because of marital difficulties that had evolved over the last several months,” Hanson said. “They were worried about the couple’s well-being.”
The sheriff said Mason police contacted him late Tuesday.
“They advised they were working on an incident that possibly involved our missing couple,” Hanson said.
“They stated they had a deceased male and female in a local motel room and the Port Hope couple’s Uplander van was in the parking lot.”
He said the investigation produced evidence “suggesting the female may have been abducted” from Huron County and that it appeared both died in the Mason motel room from gunshot wounds in a possible murder-suicide.
Mason Police Chief John Stressman said the room at Heb’s Inn & Motel was booked at 3 a.m. Tuesday. Police were alerted after the couple had not left at the 11 a.m. checkout time, Stressman told the Lansing State Journal.
Stressman said investigators will confirm the man and woman’s identities through dental records and DNA tests. They will look at autopsy results to confirm they died of gunshot wounds, he said.
“It’s still an open investigation and we’ve still got a lot of legwork to do,” Stressman said.
Mason Motel Deaths Ruled Murder-Suicide
Big 921 New
December 01, 2011
http://big921.com/news/articles/2011/dec/01/mason-motel-deaths-ruled-murder-suicide/
MASON, Mich (WLMI) Police in Mason have confirmed the bodies of a man and woman found Tuesday in a motel died in a murder-suicide.
Officials say it appears the former police chief of Bad Axe—in Michigan’s Thumb—abducted his estranged wife and drove her to Heb’s Inn on North Cedar and shot her, then himself.
Officials in Huron County say family members contacted the Sheriff’s Department after Gary Bucholz and his wife, Rhonda, disappeared Monday night.
Police say former Bad Axe police chief shot wife in face multiple times at Mason motel
Lansing State Journal
Dec. 2, 2011
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com
MASON — The former Huron County police chief who authorities say shot and killed his wife before killing himself inside a motel room had abducted her using “a variety of implements of restraint,” officials said.
The bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope were found Tuesday inside a room at Heb’s Inn & Motel.
Rhonda Bucholtz died from multiple handgun wounds to her face, according to a news release from Mason police.
Gary Bucholtz, who was a police chief in Bad Axe for about 10 years, died from a single shotgun wound to his head, police said.
Several “implements of restraint” were found inside the couple’s minivan and in the motel room, police said. Rhonda Bucholtz was found with an ankle restraint secured to one leg with the other end lying unsecured, police said.
Investigators believe Rhonda Bucholtz was abducted inside her Port Hope home. There was evidence she was restrained and concealed inside the minivan, police said.
How and why the couple ended up in Mason may never be known, the news release said.
He then turned the gun on himself.
The investigation is ongoing, but police said they may never know why the couple ended up in Mason.
Police say former Bad Axe police chief shot wife in face multiple times at Mason motel
Lansing State Journal
Dec. 2, 2011
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com
MASON — The former Huron County police chief who authorities say shot and killed his wife before killing himself inside a motel room had abducted her using “a variety of implements of restraint,” officials said.
The bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope were found Tuesday inside a room at Heb’s Inn & Motel.
Rhonda Bucholtz died from multiple handgun wounds to her face, according to a news release from Mason police.
Gary Bucholtz, who was a police chief in Bad Axe for about 10 years, died from a single shotgun wound to his head, police said.
Several “implements of restraint” were found inside the couple’s minivan and in the motel room, police said. Rhonda Bucholtz was found with an ankle restraint secured to one leg with the other end lying unsecured, police said.
Investigators believe Rhonda Bucholtz was abducted inside her Port Hope home. There was evidence she was restrained and concealed inside the minivan, police said.
How and why the couple ended up in Mason may never be known, the news release said.
Police say bodies are former Bad Axe police chief and wife
WNEM TV News
Dec 03, 2011
http://www.wnem.com/story/16179700/police-say-bodies-are
MASON, MI (WNEM) - Police said the bodies found inside a motel room are that of a former Bad Axe police chief and his wife.
Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz were found shot to death at a Mason Motel room.
Police said Gary Bucholtz took his wife from their home, restrained her in the car and shot her several times in that motel.
He then turned the gun on himself.
The investigation is ongoing, but police said they may never know why the couple ended up in Mason.
Mason police discover murder-suicide
Former police chief abducted his wife and put her in restraints in Port Hope
Lansing State Journal
Dec. 4, 2011
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com
MASON - The Huron County sheriff and Mason investigators say a former police chief abducted his estranged wife and secured her with restraints and drove her to a Mason motel, where he fatally shot her and himself.
Mason police found the bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope in a Mason motel while conducting a welfare check Nov. 29. Rhonda Bucholtz had several gunshots to the face and her estranged husband had a single shotgun would to his head.
Gary Bucholtz was police chief for about 10 years in Bad Axe, a city of 3,500 in Huron County in the Thumb region.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said relatives contacted his department after the couple disappeared on Nov. 28.
A minivan belonging to the couple was parked outside the motel room where a man and woman were found shot to death, officials said.
Mason police last week ruled the deaths a murder- suicide, and in a prepared statement last Thursday revealed that a variety of restraints were used on Mrs. Bucholtz.
"We don't know for sure the time of death or why they were there," said Mason police Chief John Stressman. "We are still processing the evidence."
Family members reported that the couple had been having marital difficulties and they were concerned for their well-being, according to the sheriff's office.
On Nov. 29, Mason police contacted the Huron County sheriff's office, saying that the murder-suicide possibly involved the missing Huron County couple.
The couple checked into a room at Heb's Inn & Motel, on North Cedar Street near U.S. 127, at 3 a.m. Police were alerted after the couple had not left at the 11 a.m. checkout time, Stressman said.
At about 2:30 p.m., police were called to the motel for a welfare check, where they found the man and woman dead.
A cleaning person at the motel spoke to a man earlier in the day whom police believe was one of the deceased, Stressman said.
Former police chief abducted his wife and put her in restraints in Port Hope
Lansing State Journal
Dec. 4, 2011
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com
MASON - The Huron County sheriff and Mason investigators say a former police chief abducted his estranged wife and secured her with restraints and drove her to a Mason motel, where he fatally shot her and himself.
Mason police found the bodies of Gary and Rhonda Bucholtz of Port Hope in a Mason motel while conducting a welfare check Nov. 29. Rhonda Bucholtz had several gunshots to the face and her estranged husband had a single shotgun would to his head.
Gary Bucholtz was police chief for about 10 years in Bad Axe, a city of 3,500 in Huron County in the Thumb region.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said relatives contacted his department after the couple disappeared on Nov. 28.
A minivan belonging to the couple was parked outside the motel room where a man and woman were found shot to death, officials said.
Mason police last week ruled the deaths a murder- suicide, and in a prepared statement last Thursday revealed that a variety of restraints were used on Mrs. Bucholtz.
"We don't know for sure the time of death or why they were there," said Mason police Chief John Stressman. "We are still processing the evidence."
Family members reported that the couple had been having marital difficulties and they were concerned for their well-being, according to the sheriff's office.
On Nov. 29, Mason police contacted the Huron County sheriff's office, saying that the murder-suicide possibly involved the missing Huron County couple.
The couple checked into a room at Heb's Inn & Motel, on North Cedar Street near U.S. 127, at 3 a.m. Police were alerted after the couple had not left at the 11 a.m. checkout time, Stressman said.
At about 2:30 p.m., police were called to the motel for a welfare check, where they found the man and woman dead.
A cleaning person at the motel spoke to a man earlier in the day whom police believe was one of the deceased, Stressman said.
