Body Found at Selfridge

Published March 13, 2014
127th Wing Public Affairs

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- The security posture at Selfridge Air National Guard Base has been increased in response to the Thursday morning, March 13, discovery of a deceased man on the base.

The man's body was discovered outside of a building on the west side of the base by a military member as he was arriving for work. A base-wide lockdown was briefly ordered immediately after the body was discovered.

While military officials normally do not comment on specific security measures, 127th Wing commander Col. Philip Sheridan said he is ordering increased measures on the base.

"The safety and security of our military personnel, our civilian employees and those on the base on government business is of paramount concern," Sheridan said. "Our 127th Security Forces Airmen are working closely with local law enforcement to determine the identity of this individual."

The deceased man did not have identification on his person and he has not yet been identified. Personnel from the 127th Security Forces Squadron and Selfridge Fire Department initially responded to the scene. Local law enforcement was then contacted. The Michigan State Police is now leading the investigation into the identity of the deceased man. The deceased man was wearing a red sweatshirt with Red Wings logo on the front, blue jeans and light-colored boots. The man is described as white, ages 20-30, 5 feet 9 inches or 5 feet 10 inches tall and slim.

The body was discovered prior to the day's scheduled flight operations. All flight operations and other military operations are now operating on the base as regularly scheduled.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Michigan State Police tip line at 1-877-616-4677.

Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operation Command by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 97th year of continuous military air operations in 2014.