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Northern Michigan father remembers son who died after escaping from Mecosta County Sheriff’s transport vehicle – News 9 and 10

Northern Michigan father remembers son who died after escaping from Mecosta County Sheriff’s transport vehicle – News 9 and 10

A northern Michigan father is searching for answers and remembering his son after he was killed while fleeing from a moving Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office transport vehicle.

Chris Ormsbee of Cheboygan said his son Tylor died Sunday after he escaped from transportation last Thursday morning.

The sheriff’s office said the incident occurred as the van was traveling south on US-127 in Gratiot County as it was taking Tylor to a downstate prison after being convicted of a parole violation.

Ormsbee said Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller contacted him to let him know his son Tylor was in intensive care after trying to escape from the van, but added the sheriff didn’t tell him how everything turned out.

He said he’s still trying to deal with it.

“I was stunned. I didn’t understand why? I just have a lot of unanswered questions. They keep telling me this is an open investigation,” Ormsbee said.

Sheriff Miller said details are limited at this time pending Michigan State Police’s investigation into the incident.

He also said that he expressed his condolences to the family and had personally contacted the family to wish them all the best.

Chris said that the last time he spoke to Tylor, he was optimistic and seemed to want to turn his life around.

He worked. He was happy about it. He was trying to get to a better place than he was already in,” Chris said.

Chris said Tylor had his struggles, but he also had his strengths.

He said he was Chris’ firstborn and the oldest of 14 siblings. He loved them and was loved by them all.

“When things were bad, he always knew how to bring light into other people’s souls. And help cheer them up,” Chris said.

Chris said Tylor had a passion for music

“He liked making music. His sister died in 2005 and that inspired him to write songs,” Chris said.

Chris says Tylor died on Sunday after being placed on life support.

“There was no brain activity due to the skull fractures. And swelling of the head and brain. He had numerous broken ribs. broken collarbone. Everything was swollen and he had a rash all the way down his toes,” Chris said.

Chris said he has heard of other cases in Michigan, including one in Ingham County where an inmate jumped from a moving sheriff’s vehicle and died in 2019.

He said more needed to be done to protect prisoners and the general public.

Chris said that instead of celebrating Tylor’s 26th birthday on Friday, they are in the process of planning a celebration of life for him.