MT. PLEASANT — This weekend marks 10 years since CMU student Ryan Tsatsos was hit and killed in Mt. Pleasant while walking back to his residence hall.
Since then, State Police have chased down hundreds of tips and leads but still haven’t been able to find the driver who hit and killed Ryan.
The hit and run happened on Crawford Road between Billabraile Street and Concourse Drive just south of the CMU campus.
Troopers believe the vehicle that hit and killed Ryan is a dark metallic blue color and likely had damage to the front passenger side, the fender, windshield and hood.
State Police say they know someone has information that could help solve this case, even after a decade.
“We know somebody else was involved, somebody was driving the vehicle, maybe there was a passenger in the car, maybe there was a witness because that was a stretch of roadway that was regularly traversed by students between off campus housing and the campus, so we’re hoping somebody knows something, or saw something, or maybe it’s a case where somebody heard somebody talking about their involvement in this incident and is willing to give us that information,” said Spl/Lt. Kim Vetter with the Michigan State Police.
Ryan’s parents shared the following statement with 9&10 News:
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our friends at 9&10 News for honoring the memory of our son, Ryan, and for continuing the search for the person responsible for the accident that took his life. It’s hard to believe ten years have passed since Ryan was taken from us; it feels like just yesterday. This anniversary brings with it a flood of emotions and has been more difficult than we anticipated.
As we have shared in the past, we long ago forgave the person involved in this tragic accident. However, we continue to hope that this individual will find the courage to come forward and take responsibility, despite how difficult that may be. Our desire is not for retribution, but for answers and closure. We certainly do not wish to cause pain for another family.
Ryan’s memory lives on in the love of his family and friends, in the laughter he shared, and in the dreams he never had the chance to fulfill. While his friends have gone on to pursue their goals, Ryan will always remain 17 in our hearts. We miss him deeply and remain forever grateful to those who continue to remember and honor him.
We now ask for the public’s help. If you have any information that could bring answers to Ryan’s case, please contact the Michigan State Police Mt. Pleasant Post at 989-773-5951. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245), use the P3 Tips mobile app, or visit P3Tips.com/488. Only tips received through Crime Stoppers that help lead to a felony arrest are eligible for a cash reward.
Thank you for keeping Ryan in your thoughts and for standing with us in the hope of finding the truth.
