Lake Township, MI – A discovery of human remains in Lake County briefly prompted an investigation Tuesday afternoon before officials confirmed the bones were ancestral in nature and not connected to a criminal case.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 3:58 p.m. Tuesday to the 16000–17000 block of South Star Lake Drive in Lake Township, near Big Star Lake, after a report that human bones had been uncovered during an excavation project.
Authorities secured the scene as representatives from the medical examiner’s office, including an anthropologist, responded to assess the remains. Following an on-site examination, officials determined the bones were ancestral, meaning they are historical in origin and not related to any recent death or ongoing investigation.
The area, located in Lake Township within Lake County and part of the broader West Michigan region, was temporarily closed to allow for a thorough review. It has since been reopened to the public.
The remains were respectfully collected and transferred into the custody of the anthropologist for further handling, in accordance with established protocols.
Multiple agencies assisted in the response, including Lake County 911 Central Dispatch, Mid-Michigan Medical Examiner’s Office, Lake County Emergency Management, Michigan State Police, and local fire personnel.
Officials did not indicate any threat to public safety and confirmed no criminal investigation is ongoing.
