A suspect in a northern Michigan mass shooting Friday had a criminal history of violence against children and domestic abuse against his ex-wife, records show.
Chad Hickman, 39, of Lake City was found dead in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township during a search following a shooting that killed five people and left one in critical condition, according to Michigan State Police. Information on the victims, such as age, gender or their identity, was not released as of late Friday.
While searching for Hickman, MSP issued a social media post saying the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous and warned the public not to approach him. “If you see him or know his whereabouts, CALL 911!” the post said.
Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to delinquency of children in connection with a 2010 criminal case brought by the Missaukee County Sheriff’s Department, according to 28th Circuit Court records. He was sentenced to 365 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,775 in costs and fees.
The court dismissed felony charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, interfering with electronic communications and two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Two additional misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree child abuse were also dismissed.
The criminal charges were based on a complaint by Hickman’s ex-wife, Katie, who initiated divorce proceedings in September 2023, after the marriage began to “deteriorate significantly,” according to a written opinion by Judge Melissa Ransom in a 2025 divorce trial.
In her opinion, Ransom said it was “uncontested” that the marriage had allegations of domestic violence, which were “at the heart of the issues before the court.”
“Testimony and evidence presented by both parties confirm that the relationship was marked by significant dysfunction and mutual toxicity,” according to Ransom’s opinion. “Each party submitted evidence, including testimony from friends and family members, describing instances of domestic violence attributed to both the Plaintiff and the Defendant.”
Katie Hickman told the court that her marriage to Chad Hickman “was characterized by control, coercion, and fear,” the opinion read.
“She testified that she lacked access to financial resources and marital assets and was compelled to make decisions and commitments under threats of harm, including physical violence, sexual assault, and financial control,” Ransom wrote.
The trial centered on property and financial disputes between the former couple. In the trial, Katie Hickman claimed Chad Hickman misappropriated money intended for renovations at a rental property they owned.
Ransom determined both parties “made credible and inconsistent claims” and determined personal property in each of their possessions “shall be awarded to that party and held free and clear of any further claim by the other,” according to court records,
In an Oct. 11 Facebook post, Hickman said everything Katie Hickman said about him “was a lie.”
“Katie Hickman told all those lies about me simply as part of an orchestrated hit to take literally everything we owned in the divorce after her many attempts of blackmailing me didn’t work,” the post read. “Thankfully the honorable Judge Ransom is way to f—ing smart to believe my ex wife’s bulls— story and made her ruling based on facts and evidence, unlike most of you. Leaving Katie was the best thing I ever did, despite every evil thing she threw at me(.) I’ve never been happier.”
Hickman’s Facebook page contains multiple posts aimed at his wife, including one claiming she broke into his apartment and stole everything he owned.
Other posts on his page include footage of him playing the video game Halo and about the TV show “Trailer Park Boys.”
mbryan@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Who was Chad Hickman? Missaukee Co. suspect had troubled past, records show
Reporting by Max Bryan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Max Bryan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
