Calhoun Deputy Murder Suicide Names Released

Calhoun County Sheriff Matt Saxton as identified the couple involved in a Sunday murder-suicide.   Saxton says 43 year old Deputy Mark Elferdink shot his wife, 38 year old Hope Elferdink, 3 times before turning the gun on himself.  Sheriff Saxton tells WBCK that he had worked with Deputy Elferdink for 18 years, since Elferdink joined the Calhoun County Sheriff department.  Saxton says “By all accounts, he was a good deputy.”  Saxton says the Sheriff’s department was aware that the couple were going through a divorce and still living in the same house, but believed things were progressing normally for that type of situation.  Saxton says the investigation by Emmett Township Public Safety officers determined that Hope Elferdink had a new love interest.  That person was interviewed and police say he is not a suspect.   Deputies say the couple’s 12 year old son woke up to find his parents' bodies.

Saxton says, “The Sheriff’s Office is greatly saddened for the family and will do everything we can to assist after this tragedy.  We are offering employee assistance to any and all of our employees as this is a devastating loss.”  He added they are also hurting for the kids left behind.

A neighbor told WXMI they heard gunshots around 1:00 a.m. and believed they heard a woman scream. A 13 year old daughter was also home when the shooting happened, along with two of the children’s friends for a sleepover, the neighbor said.