ANN ARBOR, MI — A waterproofing enterprise and a current breakup have been on the coronary heart of a murder in Washtenaw County earlier this yr, in line with information launched by police.

Michael Anthony Elinski, 59, was discovered useless Friday, Jan. 20, the day after police mentioned he shot his former girlfriend. Data obtained by the MLive/The Ann Arbor Information from the Pittsfield Township Police Division by way of a Freedom of Data Act request reveal a waterproofing enterprise, a breakup and psychological well being struggles have been components within the deadly taking pictures.

Andrea Grant, 50, of Plymouth, was discovered useless in her automotive outdoors Thrive Coaching Facility bodily coaching middle within the 3700 block of Plaza Drive on Thursday, Jan. 19. Grant had been shot eight occasions, in line with a health worker’s report — twice within the neck and head and 6 occasions within the physique.

Michael Elinski, Grant’s former boyfriend, was rapidly recognized by police because the suspect.

“I’m not right here to defend him in any method, form or type,” Kyle Elinski, Michael Elinski’s son, informed MLive/The Ann Arbor Information. His dad was an excellent particular person to lots of people, however struggled with psychological well being points, he mentioned.

Different members of Michael Elinski’s household declined to remark. Relations of Grant didn’t reply to requests for remark.

The connection

Michael Elinski grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cody Excessive Faculty, in line with Kyle Elinski. He served within the U.S. Military within the Eighties and launched his waterproofing firm roughly 15 years in the past. Kyle Elinski took over the corporate in 2017.

Grant was finest identified for the way a lot she liked her two daughters, in line with an obituary printed by Schrader-Howell Funeral Residence.

“Whether or not it was being chosen as homecoming queen, incomes a softball scholarship, being a director of a ‘Fortune 100′ firm, or getting a brand new firm up and off the bottom — Andrea was a rockstar,” her obituary reads. “She was considered one of a form that would juggle two laptops, three telephones, a volleyball schedule, household features, and exercise routine all whereas making time to keep up a correspondence with all she liked and supported.”

The pair met a number of years in the past when Grant reached out to Michael Elinski’s firm to get her basement waterproofed, in line with the police report. The pair began relationship shortly after and Grant quickly joined the corporate, the report states. She turned the proprietor in 2021, in line with LARA paperwork.

The pair had an outwardly comfortable relationship, Kyle Elinski informed police, however his father had more and more struggled with psychological well being points. Michael Elinski had blocked relations he sometimes had a detailed relationship with from his cellular phone, and had been leaving “obsessive” voicemails and textual content messages for Grant, his son mentioned.

Regardless of a declining psychological well being scenario, Michael Elinski’s family and friends tried to get him assist, in line with the police report.

Grant’s private coach at Thrive informed police she had usually talked with Grant about her relationship, saying that Grant had mentioned she was anxious about Elinksi’s emotional stability, in line with the police report.

The breakup

Grant broke up with Michael Elinski in June 2022, in line with a private safety order she filed towards him.

“(Michael Elinski) has all the time had an unpredictable and unstable character, however over the past yr and particularly within the final six months, issues have spiraled uncontrolled,” Grant wrote in her request for the order.

Within the request, she additionally cited earlier bodily abuse Elinksi perpetuated towards former companions and the way he harassed workers, contractors, family and friends.

Grant, now the only real proprietor of the corporate, fired Michael Elinski roughly 5 weeks earlier than police mentioned he killed her, the police report states. Megan Elinski, Michael Elinski’s daughter, informed police the firing was due to how “imply and disrespectful her father was,” investigators wrote within the report.

The day after police mentioned he shot Grant, Michael Elinksi was discovered useless in his automotive in Clare. His demise was dominated a suicide, in line with the police report. He was residing in Brooklyn, Michigan, on the time.

Kyle Elinski mentioned he hopes Grant’s daughters are finally capable of finding peace.

“(Grant) was making an attempt to assist my dad all the best way to the tip. She was by no means giving up on him; she simply wished to offer him assist,” Kyle Elinski mentioned. “She did all that she may. She did a lot for him. It’s simply unexplainable how a lot she tried.”

He inspired those that are combating psychological well being points to succeed in out.

“It’s OK to get assist,” he mentioned. “It’s OK to speak to someone and speak to someone usually.”

Anybody experiencing ideas of suicide can search assist from:

• The 24-hour Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988
• The Ozone Home, a 24-hour hotline for youth, at 734-662-2222.
• The 24-hour hotline at College of Michigan Psychiatric Emergency Providers at 734-936-5900.
• The Washtenaw County Group Psychological Well being disaster group at 734-544-3050.

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