COOPERSVILLE, Mich.—Police are searching for a suspect who they say beat a 72-year-old woman to death and then threw her body in the Grand River.
Sharon Roersma lived in a quiet neighborhood on Ann Street in Coopersville with her son, and attended church weekly at Coopersville Reformed Church.
“Sharon was loved at Coopersville church,” said Pastor Greg Stamm.
Stamm says he spent all of Tuesday morning comforting members of their church, who are shocked by the brutal death of their friend.
“They are heartbroken about this and their friend has now gone to be in heaven with the Lord,” said Stamm.
Still church members are shocked the woman they knew that loved bible study and lived by God’s word ended up murdered, her body discarded in the Grand River.
Since the search warrant for the home was served yesterday, Ottawa County officials continue to interview neighbors, family and friends, and have been coming and going for any evidence from the house that they may need to crack the case.
“The cause of death was head trauma, with that the victim has sustained a broken neck injury, both injuries were done before she was put into the river,” said Captain Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department.
Captain Bennett says they are conducting searches in several areas in and outside the county, including the victim’s house and car. Still there are no arrests, but they are questioning a few suspects. One of the people in question is Roersma’s own son.
“He is being questioned in this particular case, and is continuing to be questioned,” said Bennett.
50-year-old Michael Roersma is currently being held in the Ottawa County Jail, but not for murder. According to Bennett, he is being held on a probation violation.
Authorities are still processing evidence they have found in the victim’s home.
“We have been able to obtain articles of interest from in Ms. Roersma’s house where some kind of altercation or assault has taken place, but I don’t want to get into that,” said Bennett.
Sharon Roersma’s family members declined to comment on the investigation.
