Suspect named in murder

August 11, 2016November 11, 2016 Editor

Troopers were on the scene in the Millersburg area Tuesday in connection to the search for a missing woman. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

55-year-old Brenton Lee Walker was arraigned in 89th District Court of Presque Isle County Thursday. He is charged with first-degree murder, a penalty of life in prison without parole; felony firearm, with a penalty of automatic two years in prison; and felon in possession of a firearm with a penalty of two years in prison. in connection with the death of Heather Chantele Young. Remains of a body believed to be Young were discovered in a wooded area at a residence near Millersburg Tuesday.

“The victim’s family has been notified and I would ask that you keep Heather’s family in your thoughts,” said MSP F/Lt. John Grimshaw, Jr. of the Alpena Post in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

On Aug. 2, the family of Heather Young, a 42-year-old woman, reported her missing to the Michigan State Police (MSP) Post in Marshall. Her last known location was in Onaway staying with her boyfriend July 30. MSP Gaylord Post sent a trooper to Onaway to investigate and look for Young.

Brenton Walker, 55 faces murder charges in Presque Isle County

“Troopers developed information that Heather had left her boyfriend after a disagreement and she was later seen at a bar in Onaway. Troopers continued the investigation locating and interviewing a subject who was reported to have last been with her,” Grimshaw said.

The Gaylord Post of the MSP sent out a press release looking for help in locating Young Aug. 5. During the investigation certain factors started to focus on one person and detectives from MSP continued the investigation, Grimshaw said. Tuesday, troopers from MSP Alpena Post, District Home Town Security Team, the Seventh District Fugitive team and

detectives from the Alpena, Gaylord, Seventh District and the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a residence in Millersburg on Rainy Lake Road.

Additional assets from the MSP aviation unit, the Grayling Crime Lab and equipment from the CRTC Training Center in Alpena were used to search the 80-acre property. During the full-day search, evidence was recovered from the scene and detectives interviewed the suspect.

“Later in the day, the remains of a body were discovered in a wooded area which we believe to be that of Heather Young,” said Grimshaw.

The body is undergoing an autopsy in Grand Rapids to determine cause of death as the crime lab processes two scenes.