Michigan Man Found Dead in Home – 1 Year Later

Sheriff’s deputies in the community of Tyrone Township, Michigan, reportedly found the body of a man in his home who had been dead for an entire year. The Michigan man is said to have lived alone.

Concerns about the man’s welfare led deputies to check on Gary Richard Buys, age 69. The Livingston County deputies arrived at Buys’ home located in a central Michigan and discovered his decomposed body lying in the middle of the kitchen floor, according to USAToday.

A neighbor, not identified by police, became concerned after he noticed a tree had fallen on Buys’ cabin, a second home located further north in Michigan. When he did not take care of the fallen tree, the neighbor contacted authorities in Livingston County who initiated a welfare check.

Law enforcement officials do not suspect foul play at this time. “We believe he died from natural causes,” the Sheriff Bob Bezotte told reporters. “It still remains open until an autopsy is completed.”

A search of the home revealed “quite a few liquor bottles,” but it is not clear if alcohol played a role in Buy’s death.

“It’s sad no one was checking on him or paying attention to him,” the sheriff continued. “His (utility) services were still on, so he must have paid through automatic payment plan.”

Officials reported that Buys has no known family members. However, neighbors told reporters they believe there is a son living in western Michigan.

Other neighbors had complained to township officials about his overgrown grass, according to the Tri-County Times. The township officials told the neighbors nothing could be done about the grass so some of the neighbors took it upon themselves to mow Buys’ yard for him.

Buys was said to have lived in the home with his mother who died two to three years ago. Neighbors said Buys became extremely private after that. They said he would get home and drive into his garage, close the door and stay inside his home.

Sheriff Bezotte reported that Buys owned another home further north in Michigan and that neighbors might have assumed he was living there part time as well. This is the cabin where the tree fell initiating the welfare check on Buys.

Buys’ mailbox reportedly disappeared shortly after his mother’s death, but neighbors assumed he had set up a post office box.

An autopsy is scheduled to determine Buys’ cause of death. No funeral plans have been made at this time.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and is a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.