Antone Ramos

In the heart of summer 2012, the promising life of Antone Adrian Ramos, a 21-year-old man who split his life between Rhode Island and Michigan, was violently extinguished far from either of his homes. Remembered for his "bright beautiful smile," Antone was described by those who knew him as a bright, wonderful, and loving young man. Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, he had moved to Marquette, Michigan, a decade earlier, but maintained strong ties to his hometown, making sure to visit friends there on his trips back. He played football and was remembered by a friend's mother as a joyful presence. His death would leave a void in two communities, connected by the memory of a young man who was just starting to build his future.

On Thursday, July 12, 2012, Antone’s journey came to a tragic end. His body was discovered inside a desolate, abandoned apartment building on Webb Street in Detroit. He was the victim of a homicide. The initial discovery gave investigators with the Detroit Police Department very little to work with. The victim was unidentified, and the reasons for his presence in that derelict building were a complete mystery. The city of Detroit, located in Wayne County, is hundreds of miles from Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding investigation. The neighborhood where Antone was found was a stark contrast to the scenic shores of Lake Superior he had come to know in Marquette.

A crucial clue was found parked near the crime scene: a pickup truck. Investigators discovered the truck was registered to a resident of Marquette, providing the first tangible link between the unknown victim in Detroit and the distant Upper Peninsula city. This finding prompted the Detroit Police Department to contact their counterparts in the Marquette City Police Department for assistance. The case, however, hit a temporary roadblock. When Marquette police tried to contact the registered owner of the vehicle, they learned the individual was away on a fishing trip and was unreachable.

It wasn’t until the following Sunday, three days after the discovery, that investigators were able to speak with the truck’s owner. The owner told police that Antone Ramos had borrowed the pickup truck the previous week. With a name to go on, investigators reached out to Antone’s family members, who provided the heartbreaking confirmation of his identity. The two police departments, separated by the length of the state, began a joint investigation into the murder of Antone Ramos, trying to piece together his final days and understand the journey that took him from Marquette to the abandoned building in Detroit.

In the wake of his death, Antone's family brought him home to Rhode Island. Funeral services were held at the A. Tarro and Sons Funeral Home in Providence, where friends and relatives gathered to mourn the profound loss of a young man described as an amazing person and a great influence. He was laid to rest in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Providence. The guestbook for his obituary filled with messages of love and disbelief, with one friend writing, "he will always hold a very special place in my heart."

More than a decade later, the murder of Antone Ramos remains unsolved. Despite the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, no arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case has grown cold, leaving his family and friends without answers or justice. Key questions persist: Why did Antone travel to Detroit? Who did he meet there? And why was his life taken in such a brutal manner? As of July 2012, authorities asked for the public’s help, and that plea continues. The Marquette City Police Department has encouraged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward by calling them at 228-0400.