Police: Michigan Elementary School Principal Killed Son, Self

BUSHNELL TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - Police say a 52-year-old elementary school principal killed his disabled son and fatally shot himself in mid-Michigan.

The bodies of George Heckman and 28-year-old Grant Heckman — both of the Clinton County community of Westphalia — were found Monday night in a van parked along a dirt road in rural Bushnell Township, according to State Police. Autopsies were performed Tuesday.

George Heckman, who was principal at Pewamo Elementary School, was scheduled to take over this summer as superintendent of the school district.

The Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools district said a search by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office intensified after he didn't show up to a school board meeting on Monday.

That's when, said current Superintendent Dr. Garth Cooper, detectives were able to pinpoint George Heckman's location using his cell phone.

"And when they got there authorities found George's van, found and Grant both inside the van, both unresponsive, and as we now know both deceased," Cooper told WWJ's Beth Fisher.

Cooper said George Heckman and Grant, his oldest son, had a good relationship.

"They were very close. He was severely physically handicapped and so George spent a lot of time with him. He would often take Grant out for walks or to see various things, so they spent a lot of time together and they were very close."

Cooper called George Heckman's death "tragic" for his family and a "great loss" for the community.

© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.