Groveland Twp.- A nationally known religious leader was found mortally wounded in his vehicle on Hawley Road south of Grange Hall Road on Wednesday.
Autopsy results were not available as of presstime, but Michigan State Police Sgt. Gary Muir said it appeared Roy McLaughlin, 57, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A gun registered to McLaughlin, as well as a note to his family, were found in the vehicle.
Muir said at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, a gravel truck driver passing by in the area observed a parked car on the side of the road with the driver’s door open and stopped, later telling police something didn’t look right. After finding McLaughlin inside, the driver called 9-1-1.
Paramedics transported McLaughlin to Genesys Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
McLaughlin was the senior pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Swartz Creek and executive director of the Moral Action Committee of the Baptist Missionary Association of America.
According to the Cornerstorne Baptist Church website, McLaughlin was a Texas native and began preaching when he was 18.
He had several degrees, including a doctorate of ministry from Landmark Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
McLaughlin, who was married and the father of four sons, appeared on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America, ‘NBC News Magazine,? ‘Public Broadcasting Network,? and other televised interviews on moral-political issues.