A 41-year-old South Branch Township man took his own life last week by cutting his head with a chain saw after police said he unsuccessfully tried to reconcile an estranged marriage with his ex-wife.

Steve Gregory Walther died at Mercy Hospital Grayling on Wednesday, March 26, after being transported there in an ambulance for a fatal head injury.

Crawford County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a home in the Indian Glens of the AuSable subdivision in South Branch Township, at 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, for a domestic assault in progress.

The woman in the home called the police when Walther, who she was granted a divorce from on March 17, came to retrieve some of the personal property he was awarded in the divorce agreement. 46th Circuit Trial Court Judge Janet M. Allen signed a judgment of default for the divorce, which means that Walther did not answer or contest the court filings made by his wife, according to Crawford County Circuit Court records.

After talking to his ex-wife about reconciling their relationship, Walther became upset and threatened to hurt her and himself with a knife he had taken from a drawer, police said.

The woman called 911, then fled the home with her dog, seeking help from a neighbor.

Sgt. Randy Baerlocher, from the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, was patrolling in the area and arrived at the home at 12:37 p.m.

When he arrived, Baerlocher found Walther collapsed in the driveway with a self-inflicted wound to the head. Baerlocher said that Walther retrieved a chain saw from a shed and cut himself in the head. He was still alive and responded to Baerlocher's questions.

Ambulances from South Branch Township Fire Department and Mobile Medical Response treated Walther at the scene. A NorthFlight helicopter from Traverse City was requested to respond to the scene. The helicopter arrived at a landing site created at Scott's Wood Products, located at the intersection of West Federal Highway and Billman Road. But, after evaluating Walther and discovering that his condition was deteriorating quickly, emergency personnel transported him by ambulance to Mercy Hospital Grayling. He died a short time after arriving at the hospital.

Walther used to live in Cass City, but has resided in Crawford County for the last 10 years, Baerlocher said.

Baerlocher said that Walther had a history of domestic assault and mental health issues.

"If the woman had not left the home, in my opinion, she could have been the victim of a homicide," Baerlocher said.