BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) – A gruesome crime in Bay City has sparked an urgent search for a suspect, leaving the community stunned and saddened.

Police have identified Justie Stilwell as the man whose body parts were found at the Golson Boat Launch in Bay City on Wednesday.

Related: Bay City officials identify victim whose remains were found

Those who knew him say they mourn the loss of a sweet, shy friend.

TV5’s James Felton spoke with the manager of Supercuts in Bangor Township, where Stilwell got his hair cut. She said he was a very nice customer.

“I just couldn’t believe it was actually someone I knew,” said manager Renee Griebe.

She was shocked to learn that one of her favorite clients had died. She said Stilwell was the nicest person.

According to police, Stilwell’s arms and legs were found in two different locations along the shoreline at the Golson Boat Launch in Bay City on Wednesday, September 18.

“He was rather quiet, not so sociable, I had to drag it out somehow so that he would talk to me at the hairdresser and so on. He was just always nice. I can’t imagine something like that happening to him,” said Griebe.

Investigators are still trying to determine who did this to Stilwell and how his remains ended up in this area of ​​the Saginaw River.

According to police, his family reported him missing on Wednesday. Stilwell’s car was found by family members in a nearby park on Thursday.

“I want to find out what happened to him and hopefully we can find out everything about him. That’s the crazy thing about it,” Griebe said.

She said she was terribly sorry for the suffering of his family.

“I’m so sorry. He’s going to be missed so much, especially by the people who knew him. The thought that I’ll never have the chance to cut his hair again is just crazy,” she said.

Investigators said they did not know who took Stilwell’s life, but believed it was an isolated incident and that Stilwell somehow knew his killer.

“Hopefully we can find out who did this to him and what actually happened to him, and Justie will get justice,” Griebe said.

TV5 contacted the Bay City Public Safety Director on Friday, September 20, and he said that the search of the Golson Boat Launch ended early Friday afternoon. He said no new evidence was found on Friday.

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