NEWAYGO COUNTY - Authorities were at the scene of a Newaygo County homicide in May for more than an hour before they realized one of the gunshot victims was still alive.
Police reports from the investigation into a shooting that killed a man and critically injured his wife show multiple people assumed Glenna Duram was dead while responding to the couple's Sand Lake area home.
Partially covered by a blanket, the 47-year-old woman lay still and quiet near her deceased husband while authorities searched the home the afternoon of May 13, after they were called there on what was initially reported as a suicide.
No one checked Glenna Duram's pulse until more than an hour after she was discovered, according to police reports obtained by MLive and The Grand Rapids Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.
When state police took a closer look and touched the injured woman, Duram's eyes opened and, in confusion, she asked what was happening.
Martin Duram, 46, was found dead after being shot five times. Police and prosecutors remain tight-lipped about the open investigation into his slaying and the gunshot wound suffered by his wife. So far, no one has been charged with any crime related to the case. State police said early in the investigation that Martin Duram was the victim of a homicide, but investigators have refused to publicly state how his wife was wounded.
Aside from a worried neighbor, Sand Lake firefighters and first responders were the first to enter the home at 9242 E. 128th St. in Ensley Township. The neighbor found the firefighters working on a fire down the road and summoned them to the Durams' single-story home after walking into the bloody scene in the couple's bedroom.
The woman entered the unlocked home out of concern for the Durams, as she hadn't seen or heard from her friends in two days. Inside, she found the home in disarray, which was unusual for the couple. A broken lamp and several items were strewn across the living room and bedroom. Police later determined there were no obvious signs of a break-in.
Martin Duram, who died of five gunshot wounds, was lying on the floor near the bed. Glenna Duram was also on the floor. The neighbor realized something was wrong when she saw blood on both of them.
Sand Lake Fire Chief Ed Holtzlander and two others entered the residence after hearing that both Martin and Glenna Duram were possibly dead inside.
They saw the victims on the bedroom floor, as well as bullets on the bed. A blanket covered Glenna Duram's body, leaving only her head exposed. The first responders were in the home for a short time before they "made the decision to back out of the residence as it appeared to be a crime scene," police reports state. They didn't see a firearm.
"Chief Holtzander (sic) reported that no one checked the pulse of either Glenna or Martin Duram when they were inside the residence. Chief Holtzander (sic) reported they appeared to be dead; therefore, they backed out of the residence for their safety," according to police reports.
But when describing the scene to a 911 dispatcher, Holtzlander said they did "verify" that the victims were dead and said the wounds looked to be self-inflicted.
Messages seeking comment from Holtzlander were not returned.
Two Sand Lake first responders later went into the home after receiving information that children may be inside. They searched each room, looking in closets.
An hour after that first search, Michigan State Police Sgt. Gary Wilson wrote in police reports that he decided to clear the residence to assure no additional people were in need of medical attention and to make sure the scene was safe for processing a search warrant. The neighbor warned them of the couple's dog inside the home.
Police cleared the bedroom where the victims were found, at which time Glenna Duram's eyes were closed and she did not move or make any noises, Wilson said.
The couple's dog growled at police near Martin Duram's body. After clearing the home, Wilson asked the neighbor to help call the dog out.
He then took a closer look at Glenna Duram, who was lying on the floor.
"I did not feel that she looked deceased and believed I could see her breathing. I then attempted to check her pulse by checking her wrist. As soon as I touched her wrist, her eyes opened up and she started asking what I was doing or what was going on," Wilson said in police reports.
Wilson attempted to calm the "very confused" and combative woman while also calling for paramedics to respond. He said he couldn't tell how severe her injury was because she wouldn't stop moving and fighting.
Glenna Duram was transported to the hospital. Her injuries required months of rehabilitation.
Here is a timeline of the May 13 response, released by state police:
At 4:36 p.m., Sand Lake Fire Chief Ed Holtzlander tells a dispatcher he believes Martin and Glenna Duram are dead and says the deaths are confirmed after entering the home with two other firefighters.
State police are initially dispatched to the scene on report of a suicide.
At an unknown exact time, two Sand Lake first responders receive information that children may be inside and enter to search. They check each room and open closet doors.
At 4:50 p.m., a dispatcher advises a trooper that paramedics were asked to stay out of the residence until police arrived, based on first responders saying the Durams were dead on arrival. The trooper asks if the first responders saw they were deceased. The dispatcher replies the chief said they were dead on arrival. The trooper says police would handle it from there.
At 5:34, police clear the home to assure there is no one else inside in need of medical treatment and that it's safe for processing a search warrant.
While inside attempting to retrieve the couple's dog, Michigan State Police Sgt. Gary Wilson notices that Glenna Duram is breathing and touches her wrist, at which point her eyes open.
At 5:39 p.m., Wilson tells dispatchers to "get the first responders up to the residence. One of them is not deceased."
Angie Jackson covers public safety and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her at ajackso3@mlive.com, and follow her on Twitter.