Family of murdered couple asks 'Why?'

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) - Kentwood police have released more details on the case involving a husband and wife found dead in their Stowevalley Drive home Saturday morning.

Police said the victims in the case, which they are now calling a double homicide, were 81-year-old David Bouwman and his wife, 80-year-old Vivian Bouwman.

"You couldn't ask for a better couple," Vivian's eldest sister, Ann Kieft, told 24 Hour News 8. "There's no end to our love for her, for both of them."

Police discovered the murders after the victims' car, a gold-colored Cadillac DeVille, was found burned near the 3800 block of Madison Avenue in Wyoming early Saturday morning.

Police traced the car back to the Bouwmans house on Stowevalley Drive SE , where the victims were found deceased. The causes of death have not yet been released.

The murders are thought to have occurred sometime between 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Police said they believe the Bouwmans died during a home invasion and that one or more suspects took the Bouwmans' car, which was then dumped and set on fire on Madison Avenue.

"What is the sense to it?" Kieft said. "Is it just because they thought there was something in the house? Or were they after the car?"

Vivian worked with students at Grand Rapids area schools, her family said. David was an engineer for years with Lear Corporation.

Kieft, now the last of six siblings, said her brother-in-law had a special fondness for fixing things for others, especially clocks.

"You just don't know how anybody could do something to people like that," Kieft said. "It's a thing we just can't understand."

No arrests have been made and police released no information about whether they have identified suspects in the case.

Authorities are asking for the public's help with the investigation. They want to speak with anyone who may have seen any suspicious people or vehicles near the crime scenes on Stowevalley Drive SE and/or Madison Avenue, or anyone who has any other information that would be helpful to the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Silent Observer at 616.774.2345 or the Kentwood Police Department at 616.698.6580.