Michigan Mass Shooter’s Ex-wife Speaks Out after Massacre of Five Following Bitter Divorce Battle
By MELISSA KOENIG, US REPORTER
The ex-wife of a Michigan man who killed five people and left another critically injured before apparently taking his own life has said she and their three children are safe.
Chad Hickman, 39, shot three people dead at a home on LaChance Road in Lake Township on Friday morning before fleeing the scene.
When authorities then received a call from an unidentified 13-year-old who reported that she had been shot in the arm, they raced to the scene, where they found the three victims dead and a fourth victim critically injured.
The shocking sight sparked a massive manhunt for Hickman, whom Michigan State Police considered ‘armed and dangerous.’
As the search continued, authorities located the body of a fourth deceased victim inside a separate home, and a short time later, troopers found Hickman’s vehicle abandoned near a wooded area close to Whitlock Lake.
Authorities then decided to scour the area with a K9 team, when they discovered Hickman’s body – along with another deceased victim.
Police have not yet released the identities of those killed in the rampage or how they were related to Hickman, but a profile apparently belonging to Hickman’s ex-wife posted that she and their three children were safe from the rampage.
Chad Hickman, 39, allegedly shot dead three people at a home on LaChance Road in Lake Township on Friday morning before fleeing the scene
Michigan State Police were seen investigating a massive shooting that left six people dead
Authorities said there is no threat to the larger public at this time
Just want to let everyone know that me and the kids are safe,’ she posted.
‘And thank you all for loving and caring for me and my family as much as you all do. We love you all.’
The ex-wife, Katie, initiated divorce proceedings in 2023, according to records obtained by the Detroit News.
It was then finalized last year, when a judge declared that it was ‘uncontested’ that the marriage had allegations of domestic abuse on both sides that were ‘at the heart of the issues before the court.’
‘Testimony and evidence presented by both parties confirm that the relationship was marked by significant dysfunction and mutual toxicity,’ Judge Melissa Ransom wrote in her ruling.
‘Each party submitted evidence, including testimony from friends and family members, describing instances of domestic violence attributed to both the Plaintiff and the Defendant.’
She went on to note that Katie Hickman told the court how her marriage to Chad ‘was characterized by control, coercion and fear.’
‘She testified that she lacked access to financial resources and marital assets, and was compelled to make decisions and commitments under threats of harm, including physical violence, sexual assault and financial control.’
Katie, Chad’s ex-wife, said she and their three children are safe
Chad Hickman divorced from his ex-wife, Katie, in 2025
Much of the divorce proceedings focused on the couple’s property and financial disputes.
During the trial, Katie had claimed Chad misappropriated money they had intended to use for renovations at a rental property they owned.
But Ransom ultimately determined that both Chad and Katie made ‘credible and inconsistent claims,’ as she ruled that personal property in each of their possessions ‘shall be awarded to that party and held free and clear of any further claim by the other.’
Still, Hickman continued to lash out at his ex-wife online.
In an October 11 post on Facebook, he claimed that everything Katie had said about him was a ‘lie.’
‘Katie Hickman told all those lies about me simply as part of an orchestrated hit to take literally everything we owned in the divorce after her many attempts of blackmailing me didn’t work,’ he wrote.
‘Thankfully, the honorable Judge Ransom is way too f***ing smart to believe my ex-wife’s bulls**t story to make her ruling based on facts and evidence, unlike most of you.
‘Leaving Katie was the best thing I ever did, despite every evil thing she threw at me. I’ve never been happier.’
In another post, Hickman accused Katie of breaking into his apartment and stealing all of his belongings.
Hickman accused his ex-wife of spreading ‘lies’ about him
But his daughter fought back against the claims, as she accused her father of being abusive.
‘Chad, you have abused me, my mother and my siblings. You are not the victim,’ she wrote in a post on October 12. ‘You are a psychotic man that needs help.’
‘You can think what you want, but you will never be a father to me and I will never think of you as one either,’ she continued. ‘You are a horrible person for everything that you have done to us.’
Court records also show Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children in connection with a 2010 criminal case.
The charges were based on a criminal complaint brought by Katie, but the court dismissed felony charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, interfering with electronic communications and two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Two additional misdemeanor charges of fourth degree child abuse were also dismissed.
Hickman was ultimately sentenced to serve one year behind bars and was ordered to pay $1,775 in court fees.
Records obtained by the Daily Mail also suggest he was facing a new civil lawsuit that was filed at the end of July. The details of the case were unclear.
Hickman previously served one year behind bars after being convicted of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children
A motive for the killings on Friday remains unclear as authorities work to piece together exactly what happened, but police have said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
‘Not only is this difficult for our investigators and our troopers, but it’s very hard for this community. You know, this type of loss is tragic,’ Michigan State Police Public Information Officer Ashley Miller told Up North Live.
She then vowed that troopers are ‘going to conduct a thorough investigation, and we want to make sure to keep our community members up to date on our current situation and what we’re discovering throughout this process.’
As the investigation now continues, state Representative Ken Borton offered his condolences.
‘Please join me in praying for our Northern Michigan community tonight after the unspeakable acts of violence we saw unfold today, especially send prayers for the six families who lost a loved one today and pray that an additional person, currently fighting for their life, will pull through and make a full recovery,’ he posted on social media.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also posted that she is ‘devastated to hear about the tragic shooting that occurred this afternoon in Missaukee County.
‘As we await more details, my prayers are with the family and loved ones of the victims and the entire Northern Michigan community.’
Governor Gretchen Whitmer also said she was briefed on the shooting and was monitoring the situation.
‘My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Missaukee community,’ she said.
