Michigan boy who killed himself after social media prank to be laid to rest

MARQUETTE, Mich. – Family and friends are saying their final goodbyes Tuesday to an 11-year-old Michigan boy who killed himself after a social media prank.

Tysen Benz, from Marquette, died last week from injuries he sustained from a suicide attempt in March.

A funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon at Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home in Marquette, Michigan.

A juvenile was charged last week in connection to the suicide.

Tysen's mother, Katrina Goss told the Associated Press that her son was found hanging by the neck in his room after seeing social media posts and texts that his 13-year-old girlfriend killed herself. Goss says the girl and some friends orchestrated the prank and that Tysen replied over social media that he was going to kill himself.

The juvenile was charged with malicious use of telecommunication services and using computers to commit a crime. Police will not release the name of the suspect due to their status as a juvenile or comment on what relationship the person had with the boy.

Here is Tysen's obituary:

MARQUETTE, MI - William Wallace once said, "Every man dies. Not every man really lives." Tysen Jade Benz, who came into this world August 30, 2005, at Marquette, Michigan, passed away at CS Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, in the loving, comforting care of his family and family friend, Joana Duquette. An all too brief eleven years which is honored and celebrated more for its quality than for its heartbreaking quantity.

Tysen was beloved by everyone who ever met him. He possessed a contagious smile and a personality which you couldn't help but absolutely love. You could tell by his nature that everything he did was done with heart and passion, showing great strength, determination, and courage. He was extremely kind, fun, hilarious, sweet, smart, strong, adventurous, and charismatic...and, he never ever gave up! Being in his presence was a joy and you never forgot how kind and engaging this phenomenal young person was.

Tysen was extremely athletic, excelling in his favorite sports, MSA travel soccer, MJH hockey, MJG golf, MMSR skiing and snowboarding, performing flips, tricks and rails. Summers were especially filled with displays of his athletic prowess. He loved doing daring flips and jumps off the Black Rocks Cliffs, AuTrain bridge, sand walls/dunes, Lower Harbor dock wall, and at Peak Gym and many other places. He truly had no fear which was obvious in everything he accomplished.

Tysen was also very creative at fixing, making, and building things, while also being an excellent helper. He helped create and plan the building project for a huge all season ski ramp, complete with rails, for the backyard with his Papa Chris.

He was never idle, always active each and every day.

Tysen's years may have been brief on this earth, but every single one was filled with so many joyous and eventful activities that he "lived more" in his short life than most do in a full lifetime. He was simply excited about the pure joy and wonder of life itself!

We, as his family, are so blessed and honored to have been gifted with Tysen as our family member and we will forever hold him in our hearts and never ever forget him. We will honor his memory each and every day and relish the blessing he, himself, had brought us by just being him. We love you so very much sweet Tysen, always in our minds and hearts and never ever forgotten.

Tysen is survived by his mother, Katrina Goss of Marquette; his father, Raymond Benz;
two brothers, Julian Greason and Aundraes Benz both of Marquette; paternal half brother & paternal half sister, Jordan Benz of Marquette and Kayleonna Solberg of Baraga; maternal grandparents, Al and Jayne Hauptman of Marquette and Christopher Goss of Deerton; paternal grandparents, Marcella and Lee Hadden of Mt. Pleasant and Thomas Armiga of Marquette; maternal great-grandmother, Vivian Rousseau; aunt and uncle, Carlye (Guy) Bryan of Portland, OR; and many other family and friends.

"Good night sweet prince: and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! (from Hamlet by William Shakespeare).
Tysen's life will be honored and celebrated at the Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 11, beginning at 4:00 pm until the time of service at 7:00 pm. Rev. Leon Jarvis will preside and refreshments will be served during visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Condolences may be expressed online at swansonlundquistfuneralhome.com

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Tysen Jade Benz, please visit our Tribute Store. Or, if you would like to donate to the family, please visit Tysen's Tribute Fund.


About the Author:

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.