Law enforcement searches for reported strangler, but no crime, suspect found

BRANCH TWP. — Deputies from Mason County Sheriff’s Office along with Michigan State Police troopers searched the Wallhalla and Fountain areas for several hours Wednesday for a male parole absconder in his 40s. Around 8:30 p.m. law enforcement received a call that a man had been saying that he had strangled a woman to death in Manistee County. The man was known to live in the Branch Township area.

Undersheriff Jody Hartley said that Manistee County officials had not received any information about any murders happening there. Hartley said the suspect does have several warrants out against him but law enforcement was unable to locate him.

“He told a person that he had gotten into an argument with a woman and strangled her. The person who called said that the suspect had blood on him.”