There is a reason I spoke up about the death of Michael Ewing in Springville.
It is not because I knew him.
It is not because I know his family personally.
It is because I have seen something like this before.
Twenty four years ago January 23rd 2002, my little brother Justin Thompson died. He was 16 years old.
The official explanation my parents were given was “accidental death.” But Justin was struggling with depression. He was on multiple prescription medications. And he ended his own life.
What most people never saw was what happened in the weeks and months before that day.
Police officers showed up at the homes of several of Justin’s friends. They were asking about him. Investigating him. But not directly speaking to him in a clear and open way. Instead, they knocked on doors. They talked to parents. They created fear.
This was a small Utah community. When police start asking questions about a teenage boy, word spreads quickly. Parents become protective. Friends distance themselves. Rumors form.
A 16 year old who already feels isolated suddenly feels watched.
My parents did what any parents would do. They called law enforcement and asked a simple question: What did our son do?
At first, they were told it was not even their department. Later, they were told it was Springville. A specific sergeant was named. We tried to contact him. No return call. No explanation. No documentation that made sense to us. No clarity.
There was no clear charge. No arrest. No formal accusation that we were made aware of.
Then, not long after, Justin was dead.
Justin was not some hardened criminal. He was a thoughtful kid. He played guitar. He loved music. He traveled with me to festivals and road trips. We disagreed about religion. I was deep into Christianity at the time. He was more agnostic. But we respected each other.
He was honest. He thought deeply about life. He asked real questions.
He was also on heavy prescription medications for depression and ADHD. Medications that clearly warn about increased risk of suicidal thoughts. I know that road personally. As a teenager, I was put on similar medications. I attempted to take my own life twice during those years. I know how those drugs can distort your thinking.
When you combine teenage depression, powerful prescription drugs, social isolation, and what feels like unexplained police pressure, that is not nothing.
Pressure matters.
Isolation matters.
Public shame matters.
I am not saying the police killed my brother. That is not what I am claiming.
I am saying environment plays a role. And when authority inserts itself into a young person’s life without transparency, that can have consequences.
To this day, our family never received a clear explanation about why officers were knocking on doors asking about Justin. If there was a legitimate reason, it should have been documented and explained. Instead, we were left with silence.
If you want to understand more about Justin and his story, I created a website in his memory:
https://justin-thompson.com
Now fast forward to today.
Michael Ewing’s death in Springville was ruled a suicide. His family says there is more to the story. They are asking for transparency. They are asking for answers. They are asking why certain things do not add up.
When I saw that the same department was involved, I felt something familiar.
I am not claiming the two situations are identical. I am not making accusations without evidence. That would be irresponsible.
But patterns matter.
When families repeatedly say they are not getting clear answers from the same institution, that should concern the community. It should not be brushed aside as grief or conspiracy. Grieving families still deserve transparency.
If law enforcement had legitimate concerns about my brother, say it. Document it. Explain it. Show the paperwork. Let sunlight do its job.
If Michael Ewing’s case is as simple as it has been ruled, then release the details that remove doubt. Transparency builds trust. Silence destroys it.
Small towns depend on trust. Once that trust is broken, it is very hard to rebuild.
This is not about attacking police. It is about accountability. It is about understanding that authority carries responsibility. When that responsibility is not handled with clarity, people notice.
Families live with unanswered questions for decades.
I know that from experience.
That is why I spoke up about Michael Ewing’s case. Not because I knew him. Not because I want attention. But because I recognize the weight of unanswered questions.
And no family should have to carry that alone.
Spun Web Technology SMART SEO
