Report: Armada Teen Died of Blunt Head Trauma, Asphyxia

April Millsap, the Armada teen who was murdered her while walking her dog on a popular Macomb County recreational trail last month, died of blunt force trauma to the head and asphyxia caused by neck compressions, according to a death certificate filed Wednesday.

A task force hasn’t released any new information about the investigation in the death of the 14-year-old, whose body was discovered by two joggers after her dog, Penny, led them to her body in a wooded area near the Macomb Orchard trail on July 26, the Detroit Free Press reports.

As about 200 mourners, many of them wearing pink, gathered at her funeral on Aug. 1, the FBI and other agencies involved in the hunt for her killer searched a gravel pit near the trail looking for clues, The Detroit News reports.

The funeral was held at the St. Mystical Rose Catholic Church, where April had been confirmed just three months before her death. She would have been a freshman at Armada High School this fall.

On July 31, FBI officials stopped vehicles driving in and out of Armada, but no arrests have been made in the murder, which left members of the small town of 1,700 reeling in stunned grief.

Earlier this week, family members posted a link on the Justice for April Facebook page for people who may have information in the case to submit tips online. Tips may also be made by calling the police tip line at (877) 616-4677.

“I called in a tip,” a woman posted on the Facebook page. “I’m not sure if it was relevant to anything but I’m keeping an eye out and told my children to do the same. Someone in our area knows something.”

She encouraged people to be respectful as they talk about how April died.

“Back off,” the woman wrote. “Just pray for the family ... and pay close attention to anything suspicious. My heart is with the Millsap family during this time and with all the people coming together to show their support.”

Police have released a sketch of a person of interest in the slaying. Police said the sketch is of a person who was seen on the trail the night April was killed. He is white and has sandy brown or reddish hair.

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PHOTO: April Millsap’s dog, Penny, led joggers to her body along the Macomb Orchard Trail. The dog’s patches of white hair were colored pink as Armada community members turned out in pink to remember the 14-year-old in the days following her murder. (Photo: Justice for April Facebook page)