8-year-old discovers grandparents shot to death inside Flat Rock home

FLAT ROCK, Mich. (WJBK) - Ethan was out playing on his bicycle when he came back to the gruesome scene Saturday afternoon at the only home he's ever known.

He found both of his grandparents lying dead inside their Flat Rock home. He ran to a neighbors house for help, and they called 911. 

"An eight year old should not walk in and find his grandparents dead. Disgusting," Ethan's brother Shane Bock said. "It's hard to find words, when an 8-year-old - your brother - telling you some gruesome stuff. It's hard to find words."

Police say the victims are 59-year-old Cathy Markowski and a 56-year-old Mark Harris. The had been raising Ethan since he was a baby. He also lost his mother a couple years ago.

While investigating the double murder in the 24000 block of Chinook, police discovered the couple's car was missing. Shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday police stopped the car in a neighboring community and arrested a 58-year-old man. 

They tell us the man police have in custody is a relative of Harris but no other information has been given. Motive is still a question.

"Tried to give him hugs and stuff but he was in shock and I was breaking down so it was kind of a hard time at first," Bock said.

Shane and his wife immediately said they would take care of Ethan, already with three kids of their own.

"It was pretty much either he comes and lives with us, or he goes to the system, and I can't let my little brother go to the system," he said. "I can't even begin to think what's going on in his mind right now."

"I'm trying to wrap my brain around it but it's really hard to make sense of it all," Gina said. 

They're worried about the financial burden and have set up a GoFundMe to help with burial costs, but also to provide for the new addition to their family. If you'd like to make a donation, you can do so here.