The Michigan Attorney General’s office says the death of a Benton Harbor teenager more than 30 years ago was a homicide. 16-year-old Eric McGinnis disappeared on May 17, 1991. His body was found in the St. Joseph River five days later. His death was under investigation by multiple agencies from that time through 1993. Following a media report last year on new information obtained in the case from a witness, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph police asked the Michigan Attorney General’s office to investigate. The attorney general’s office says its review started in October. It tells us, “Our thorough review of available evidence and expanded information identified a suspect and likely culprit in Eric’s homicide. The findings determined the suspect died in 2003, and we are therefore unable to file charges in this case.” That suspect’s name has not been released. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says, “While our efforts cannot bring Eric back, nor render justice in the eyes of the law, we do hope the family is vindicated by our department’s confirmation that Eric was indeed the victim of a homicide.” She says she hopes Eric’s family can be provided with some closure. A witness told ABC 57 they saw Eric being chased in the direction of the south pier in St. Joseph prior to his disappearance.
Below is the full Attorney General office’s statement:
In October 2021, the Department of Attorney General initiated a review of the death of Eric McGinnis at the request of Director Dan McGinnis of the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety and subsequent invitation from Director Steve Neubecker of the St. Joseph Department of Public Safety.
Our thorough review of available evidence and expanded information identified a suspect and likely culprit in Eric’s homicide. The findings determined the suspect died in 2003, and we are therefore unable to file charges in this case.
Throughout our review, Attorney General Nessel has ensured family was kept informed on the progress of our work.
“While our efforts cannot bring Eric back, nor render justice in the eyes of the law, we do hope the family is vindicated by our department’s confirmation that Eric was indeed the victim of a homicide,” Nessel said. “We understand this is little comfort to those who lost their loved one, but we do hope it provides some closure for the family and friends of Eric McGinnis. My office remains committed to providing our expertise to outside agencies and we thank local law enforcement in this case for its coordination and cooperation with our department’s review.”
The death of Eric McGinnis and the controversy that followed led to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal in the 90s and a book about the case and the subject of race relations in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph entitled “The Other Side of the River.”
