Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Wednesday marked the fourth anniversary of the death of a Michigan man in a hit-and-run case that remains unsolved.
The family of Timothy J. Meade is once again calling for the public’s help in solving the case.
Meade, 22, of Stephenson, Michigan, was found about 2:30 a.m. June 28, 2013, in the eastbound lane of traffic on County Road M at the state Highway 29 overpass.
“He was struck in the eastbound lane and left to die,” the family said in a media release.
Meade had been visiting friends in the area and was headed back to their residence after leaving The Shack, a nearby drinking establishment, according to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department. He left The Shack between 1:45 a.m. and 2 a.m.
He was seen by a passing motorist near the tracks just south of The Shack, talking or texting on his phone a short time later.
Around 2-2:10 a.m., a call was made from Meade’s phone.
His body was found a short time later.
“As much as we believe the driver is from the Shawano area, it is just as possible he/she was just passing through town,” the family said. “We do know the vehicle was traveling into Shawano at the point of impact.”
Detectives determined Meade was struck by an SUV or large vehicle that would have been headed eastbound on County Road M.
Autopsy results indicate Meade was lying down in the road at the time he was struck.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Gordon Kowaleski said extensive time and investigation has gone into the case.
“It’s still an open case, but it’s gone cold,” he said.
“Somebody out there has knowledge of what happened,” Kowaleski said. “The family has a right to know what happened. We’d like to get closure for them.”
Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant, is asked to call the sheriff’s department.
“We fully believe somebody knows something,” the family said. “Please keep this story fresh in your minds and help us find the person/persons responsible.”