Pastor From Byron Center May Have Been Murdered

The death of a pastor in Byron Township, originally ruled a suicide, is now being investigated as being suspicious.

According to WOOD TV, the Kent County Sheriff's Department are not releasing the pastor's name at this time. Authorities did say the man was 66 and from Byron Center.

The current pastor of the Abundant Life Church located in Byron Center did identify the pastor as Dale Cross, Sr. Cross was a member of the congregation and used to be the pastor there.

The sheriff's department received a call saying they had found a gunshot victim lying alongside the road next to a GMC Envoy. The caller went on to say that it looked like the victim had been working on the vehicle since the vehicle was on a tire jack.

The pastors body was spotted around 5 p.m. on Monday on 68th Street SW between Burlingame and Clyde Park avenues in Byron Township.

Tuesday's autopsy has been completed but no results have been released yet.

The sheriff's department are asking if you may have seen the pastor near or working on his GMC along 68th to contact them at 616-632-6357 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.