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Authorities Continue To Seek Answers In Death Of Michigan Man
October 16, 2008
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An autopsy has been performed on the body of a Battle Creek, Michigan, man was found hanging near his vehicle along the Conecuh River in Escambia County, Alabama, and authorities are seeking the public’s help to find out what happened.
The results of the autopsy, which was performed Monday, have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com was the first area media to report on Sunday that the body of Claude VanDusen, 57, was found late Thursday of last week near his vehicle under a bridge near Highway 29 and Escambia County (AL) County Road 4. They say VanDusen had been dead for about three days.
“A fisherman called in complaints about an abandoned vehicle that was being vandalized and a deputy responded and a short time later, found the body in a wooded area near the bridge,” Escambia County (AL) investigator John Gleaton said.
The results of an autoposy have not been released, but authorities in Escambia County are calling the death suspicious.
VanDusen’s step son, Chris Hooper, told NorthEscambia.com that the entire incident had been especially tough on the family due to the uncertainty about what happened. He said that local media in Michigan had differing reports, with some news outlets reporting that the death was a suicide and others reporting that it was from natural causes.
“What in the world is going on? Can’t anyone get there stories straight before going and releasing this to the public?” Hooper said.
Back in Michigan, VanDusen’s family says he left home Wednesday morning of last week, cashed his $800 biweekly check, and headed to a hardware store to buy some insulation. That was the last time anyone in his hometown knew of his whereabouts until Escambia County (Alabama) authorities notified Battle Creek Police about the discovery of the body.
Authorities in Michigan say VanDusen had no known connections to anyone in Escambia County, Alabama, or North Escambia, Florida. If you have any information about this case, you are asked to call your local law enforcement agency.
Comments
3 Responses to “Authorities Continue To Seek Answers In Death Of Michigan Man”
I was Claude’s wife and noone here that knew Claude beleives this was a suicide
This is not the first time nor will it be the last, that people have used our community as a dumping ground for their evilness. I hope and pray that no one from here in our midst actually had anything to do with this. But in an area where there is nothing safe and constructive for our kids to do they grow up to be troublesome adults with all the drugs and alcohol as readily availible as it is around here. Most of these kids that are now adults have grown up in some sort of Government Assistance Program and have been tought that you can make more money in one night and have fun at it, and let these programs pay for your bills. Then to work a 40hr week and make nothing afterpaying bills. What happened to the Century we used to love and be proud of? Not so afraid of!
This is scary. I hope the family gets the answers they are looking for.