On July 22, 2023 at approximately 11:15 PM, officers from the Big Rapids Police Department were dispatched to the 1100 block of Catherine St. for the report of shots fired.

Upon arrival, officers located a deceased female inside the residence. They also located several children in the residence that were unharmed. A search of the exterior of the residence led to officers discovering a deceased male.

The victims are identified as 33-year-old Samantha Houghton and 35-year-old Matthew Ottobre, both from Big Rapids. The investigation revealed that the two lived together and had children in common. They appeared to have gotten into an argument leading to Ottobre
shooting Houghton and then himself. The children were unharmed and released to the custody of family.

The Big Rapids Police Department was assisted on scene by the Big Rapids Fire Department, the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan State Police Crime Lab, Mecosta County EMS, Meceola Central Dispatch, the Mecosta County Medical Examiner's Office, Mecosta County Victim’s Services, and the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office Posse.