A welfare check led deputies to the bodies of a mother and her son.
CLYDE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A mother and her 10-year-old son were found dead inside their Allegan County home Wednesday in what investigators described as an apparent murder-suicide.
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office said 42-year-old Elisha Marie Mulcahey and her son, Daniel Alexander Baez, were found at their home on 56th Street near 113th Avenue. Deputies said a preliminary investigation showed Mulcahey shot Daniel before taking her own life.
The investigation began as a welfare check. Deputies arrived at the home between Fennville and Pullman and tried to reach the people inside. When no one came to the door, a deputy looked through a side window and saw a boy who appeared to be dead. Lt. Mike Brown said the deputy then pulled back as officials prepared to secure the home and collect evidence.
Deputies later entered the house and found both bodies. Officials said Mulcahey and Daniel were the only people known to live there. The sheriff’s office first treated the deaths as a possible double homicide or murder-suicide before announcing that the evidence pointed to Mulcahey as the shooter.
Sheriff Frank Baker said the case underscored the strain deputies face when responding to welfare checks that become death investigations. He said Mulcahey had struggled with mental health issues over the years and that there had been concerns about suicidal thoughts. Officials did not release further details about those concerns.
Neighbors and nearby business owners described the deaths as a shock. Agustin Garcia, who owns La Media Luna, said Mulcahey and Daniel came into the store regularly. “They were really nice to me,” Garcia said. He said he last saw them Sunday and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Investigators have not released a full timeline of the shootings or said what evidence was recovered inside the home. The case remained under review Friday as deputies continued preparing reports and notifying people connected to the family.
No arrests were expected after the sheriff’s office described the deaths as a murder-suicide. Officials said there was no known threat to the public.
Author note: Last updated May 1, 2026.