KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Authorities Identify Victim Found Dead Behind York Creek Apartments in Alpine Township as 28-Year-Old Mark Allen Blakley
KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The Kent County community is reeling after the tragic discovery of a man’s body in a wooded area behind the York Creek Apartments in Alpine Township. The Kent County Sheriff’s Office has now identified the victim as 28-year-old Mark Allen Blakley, a young man whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence.
According to officials, the grim discovery was made on the evening of Sunday, June 15, 2025. A resident of the apartment complex, located just off Yorkland Drive NW, was walking near the wooded area behind the buildings when they spotted what they believed to be a person lying motionless. The resident immediately contacted emergency services.
Deputies from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 6:30 p.m., and upon arrival, they confirmed the presence of a deceased male. The area was quickly secured and treated as a crime scene. Crime scene investigators and the medical examiner’s office were called in to process evidence and remove the body for autopsy.
On Monday, authorities confirmed that the deceased was Mark Allen Blakley. According to the results of the autopsy performed by the Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office, Blakley died from multiple gunshot wounds. His death has officially been ruled a homicide.
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the Alpine Township and Grand Rapids communities, where Blakley was known among friends and family as a kind-hearted, hardworking young man who had recently spoken about turning over a new leaf in life. Though his past included some legal challenges, those who knew him say he had been working to make positive changes.
“He wasn’t perfect, but he was trying. Mark was someone’s son, someone’s friend, and he didn’t deserve to be left out there like that,” said a close friend who asked to remain anonymous. “This is heartbreaking.”
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office has not released information regarding possible suspects or motives in the case but confirmed that the investigation is active and ongoing. Detectives are currently reviewing surveillance footage from around the apartment complex and interviewing potential witnesses.
Authorities are also asking for the public’s help. Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious near the York Creek Apartments on Sunday — particularly between 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. — is urged to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or through the Silent Observer website.
The York Creek Apartments have long been a densely populated housing area in the Alpine Township region, home to a diverse community of residents. In recent years, local law enforcement has increased patrols and community engagement in the area to address ongoing concerns about crime.
In a statement released Monday evening, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assured residents that they are doing everything possible to bring justice to Blakley and his family. “Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Mark Allen Blakley during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement read. “We are committed to a thorough investigation and will use every available resource to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
As the investigation continues, the community is coming together to mourn Blakley’s loss and to demand answers. A small memorial has begun to form near the edge of the woods where his body was discovered, with candles, flowers, and handwritten notes left in his memory.
A vigil is being planned by friends and family members for later this week to honor Blakley’s life and to call for peace and justice. In the words of his cousin, who spoke at a small gathering Monday night: “Mark didn’t deserve this. No one does. We won’t stop until we know what happened to him — and why.”
Anyone with information is strongly encouraged to reach out to authorities as investigators work to piece together the final moments of Mark Allen Blakley’s life.