Fist Fight Leads to Death, Mount Clemens Teen Faces Manslaughter Charge

The death of a 39-year-old Mount Clemens man from blunt force trauma to the head could send his alleged 17-year-old attacker to prison for manslaughter.

On April 17, Macomb County Sheriff's deputies found Michael W. Martin, 39, dead in his Mount Clemens home. At approximately 5:15 p.m., the sheriff's office received a 911 call of a man not breathing. When deputies arrived at Martin's home, he was dead.

Further investigation suggested that Martin had been a "victim of foul play," and police arrested 17-year-old Mount Clemens resident Sean David Lawrence Bozich, who witnesses told police had struck Martin several times during a fist fight on April 14, around midnight. 

According to witness reports, one of Bozich's blows caused Martin to fall backward and strike his head on the bumper of a vehicle.

An autopsy by Macomb County Medical Examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz reported on April 18 that Martin's death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head suffered during the alleged fight.

Bozich was arraigned on a charge of manslaughter–a 15-year felony–on April 18 in 41-B District Court in Clinton Township. His bond was set at $15,000 bond cash/surety at 10 percent and he was put under house arrest by tether.

Detectives are also investigating a vehicle arson that had occurred on April 16 in the area of Hubbard and Grove Park in Mount Clemens. Police believe the car arson may have been in response to the April 14 assault. The car belonged to Sean Bozich’s grandmother.