ANN ARBOR, MI — A waterproofing enterprise and a current breakup had been at the heart of a homicide in Washtenaw County earlier this year, according to records released by police.

Michael Anthony Elinski, 59, was located dead Friday, Jan. 20, the day following police mentioned he shot his former girlfriend. Records obtained by the MLive/The Ann Arbor News from the Pittsfield Township Police Division via a Freedom of Details Act request reveal a waterproofing enterprise, a breakup and mental overall health struggles had been aspects in the fatal shooting.

Andrea Grant, 50, of Plymouth, was located dead in her vehicle outdoors Thrive Education Facility physical instruction center in the 3700 block of Plaza Drive on Thursday, Jan. 19. Grant had been shot eight occasions, according to a health-related examiner’s report — twice in the neck and head and six occasions in the physique.

Michael Elinski, Grant’s former boyfriend, was immediately identified by police as the suspect.

“I’m not right here to defend him in any way, shape or type,” Kyle Elinski, Michael Elinski’s son, told MLive/The Ann Arbor News. His dad was a very good individual to a lot of individuals, but struggled with mental overall health concerns, he mentioned.

Other members of Michael Elinski’s loved ones declined to comment. Family members members of Grant did not respond to requests for comment.

The connection

Michael Elinski grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cody Higher College, according to Kyle Elinski. He served in the U.S. Army in the 1980s and launched his waterproofing corporation roughly 15 years ago. Kyle Elinski took more than the corporation in 2017.

Grant was ideal recognized for how a lot she loved her two daughters, according to an obituary published by Schrader-Howell Funeral Household.

“Whether it was getting chosen as homecoming queen, earning a softball scholarship, getting a director of a ‘Fortune 100′ corporation, or receiving a new corporation up and off the ground — Andrea was a rockstar,” her obituary reads. “She was a single of a sort that could juggle two laptops, 3 phones, a volleyball schedule, loved ones functions, and exercise regimen all whilst generating time to maintain in touch with all she loved and supported.”

The pair met numerous years ago when Grant reached out to Michael Elinski’s corporation to get her basement waterproofed, according to the police report. The pair began dating shortly following and Grant quickly joined the corporation, the report states. She became the owner in 2021, according to LARA documents.

The pair had an outwardly delighted connection, Kyle Elinski told police, but his father had increasingly struggled with mental overall health concerns. Michael Elinski had blocked loved ones members he usually had a close connection with from his cell telephone, and had been leaving “obsessive” voicemails and text messages for Grant, his son mentioned.

In spite of a declining mental overall health scenario, Michael Elinski’s good friends and loved ones attempted to get him support, according to the police report.

Grant’s private trainer at Thrive told police she had typically talked with Grant about her connection, saying that Grant had mentioned she was worried about Elinksi’s emotional stability, according to the police report.

The breakup

Grant broke up with Michael Elinski in June 2022, according to a private protection order she filed against him.

“(Michael Elinski) has generally had an unpredictable and volatile character, but more than the final year and specially in the final six months, issues have spiraled out of manage,” Grant wrote in her request for the order.

In the request, she also cited preceding physical abuse Elinksi perpetuated against former partners and how he harassed workers, contractors, good friends and loved ones.

Grant, now the sole owner of the corporation, fired Michael Elinski roughly 5 weeks just before police mentioned he killed her, the police report states. Megan Elinski, Michael Elinski’s daughter, told police the firing was due to the fact of how “mean and disrespectful her father was,” investigators wrote in the report.

The day following police mentioned he shot Grant, Michael Elinksi was located dead in his vehicle in Clare. His death was ruled a suicide, according to the police report. He was living in Brooklyn, Michigan, at the time.

Kyle Elinski mentioned he hopes Grant’s daughters are sooner or later capable to obtain peace.

“(Grant) was attempting to support my dad all the way to the finish. She was under no circumstances providing up on him she just wanted to give him support,” Kyle Elinski mentioned. “She did all that she could. She did so a lot for him. It is just unexplainable how a lot she attempted.”

He encouraged these who are struggling with mental overall health concerns to attain out.

“It’s OK to get support,” he mentioned. “It’s OK to speak to somebody and speak to somebody typically.”

Everyone experiencing thoughts of suicide can seek support from:

• The 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988
• The Ozone Residence, a 24-hour hotline for youth, at 734-662-2222.
• The 24-hour hotline at University of Michigan Psychiatric Emergency Solutions at 734-936-5900.
• The Washtenaw County Neighborhood Mental Wellness crisis group at 734-544-3050.

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