Traverse City News and Events

Murder Victim Identified, Suspect Arraigned

By Beth Milligan | Dec. 14, 2019

The Traverse City Police Department has identified 62-year-old Wanda Mae Lyons as the victim whose body was found in Leelanau County this week.

Frank Theodore Supal, a 50-year-old Maple City man, was arraigned Friday afternooon in 86th District Court on open murder charges in the crime. Lyons died of violent causes including blunt force trauma, stabbing, fractures of the neck, strangulation, and possible smothering. Lyons and her husband, who has not been publicly identified, were living in Terrace Beach Motel on and off for three months, where Supal was also an intermittent resident.

On Tuesday evening, Lyons and her husband had an argument, with her husband leaving to spend the night elsewhere. When he returned the next morning, his wife was gone. The husband reported Lyons missing late Wednesday afternoon. Her body had already been discovered Wednesday morning in a ravine by a passerby in Kasson Township, with drag marks leading to the scene.

Authorities indicate the Terrace Beach Motel was the likely scene of the homicide and that Lyons and Supal likely knew each other. Supal was taken into custody on a charge of lying to a police officer during the course of a violent crime investigation, with the Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney authorizing an additional charge of open murder Friday.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information concerning the crime is asked to contact the Traverse City Police Department Detective Bureau at 231-995-5012 or email TCPDtips@traversecitymi.gov.

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