Canoeing Accident Claims Life

On Monday, July 1st, at 2023hrs, the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office responded with the National Park Service, Glen Arbor Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard to Lake Michigan near Sleeping Bear Point on the report of an overturned canoe with two people in the water.  Upon arrival units began a search effort. 

Darkness fell but the Coast Guard helicopter was able to locate the overturned canoe with the two people still with the vessel, approximately 1/2 mile off shore.  The victims were pulled from the water and the child was air lifted to Munson Hospital for treatment.  The father of the child was transported by ambulance.  Both victims were suffering from hypothermia.  The 8 yr old child was later pronounced dead at Munson Hospital.

The victims had canoed from D.H. Day Campgrounds to North Manitou Island.  They apparently spent approximately one and one half hours on the island and then attempted to return to the mainland.  Approximately 1/2 mile from shore the canoe overturned.  The father used a cell phone to contact D. H. Day  Campgrounds to inform them they were in the water with the canoe starting the emergency response.

The father is a 48yr old man from Ann Arbor.  His son was 8yrs old.  Both were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.  The water temperature was reported to be 55 degrees at the time.

Traverse City man sentenced for strangulation

Donnie L. Turner, 35, was sentenced Monday to 10 months in jail for Attempted Assault by Strangulation and Attempted Larceny in a Building.  He was arrested in April after breaking into his estranged wife's home and assaulting her.  The victim said she was strangled.

Turner was the first suspect charged in Leelanau County under the new legislation, which makes a strangulation assault a 10 year felony.  Turner's pleas to an attempt made the maximum penalty 5 years in prison.  He was originally charged with Home Invasion First degree, a 20 year felony, Assault by Strangulation, a 10 year felony, and being a Habitual Offender Second offense, which would add 50% more time on the maximum penalties charged.

All original counts were dismissed when Turner agreed to plea to the two reduced charges.  He was given credit for 88 days already served and will have 24 months of supervision upon his release from jail.