The Kent County community is mourning the loss of Eulices Delarosa, a 37-year-old Comstock Park man whose body was found Tuesday in a wooded area of Byron Township. The discovery was made by a search party of concerned friends and family who initiated their own efforts after Delarosa hadn't been seen since the weekend. The search party located his body approximately a quarter mile from an abandoned car, identified as belonging to Delarosa, that was left in a driveway near the intersection of 60th Street and Kenowa Avenue SW, as reported by WWMT News Channel 3.
According to WZZM13, deputies from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office initially did not suspect foul play upon discovering the vehicle on Sunday. Delarosa's mother, with whom deputies made contact, suggested that her son might have run out of gas or visited a friend's house. However, as he remained unaccounted for, worry set in, and a community search began. The preliminary autopsy has not determined the specific cause of Delarosa's death, but investigators are considering the influence of alcohol and weather.
The Kent County Sheriff's Office is now awaiting further examination and toxicology test results for more insight into the tragic occurrence. "Investigators believe alcohol and weather conditions may have been contributing factors," mentioned a release, information also confirmed by a statement obtained by WOODTV. Deputies are encouraging anyone with knowledge about Delarosa's last days to come forward and assist in piecing together the events that led to his untimely death.
Authorities initially treated the situation with caution, as the Kent County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Sgt. Scott Dietrich, confirmed to WWMT News Channel 3 that the incident was regarded as suspicious. While the investigation continues, traffic on Kenowa Avenue SW between 60th and 64th Street was disrupted for several hours to accommodate law enforcement activities, but the road has since been reopened. Further details are still obscured as to how Delarosa ended up in the woods and the exact circumstances of his passing.
The Kent County Sheriff’s Department can be contacted at 616.632.6125, and Silent Observer is available at 616.774.2345 for those who may have information on the case. The community holds its breath, waiting for clarity while grappling with the grief of a life cut short.
