Family urges outside review after Springville man found dead, council says experts concluded overdose

James Euing told the Springville City Council that the family of his brother, Michael Stanley Ewing, continues to have unanswered questions about Ewing’s death and is requesting an outside, independent investigation and corrections to the official record. He said the family has found discrepancies in police reports and in information supplied to the Utah State Medical Examiner and asked the police department to forward additional evidence and metadata for review.

Euing said the family’s list of requested corrections includes notifying the medical examiner of a body-position discrepancy, gathering witness statements they say are available, sharing funeral-home photographs of injuries, and removing language in an earlier report that labeled the decedent a possible illicit drug user. He cited case number 25SV04786 and asked the city to submit the newly available information to the state medical examiner and to reopen or independently assess closed related cases.

Mayor Packard read a statement on behalf of the council and city officials, saying the city had taken additional steps in response to the family’s concerns. "The city took additional steps, engaging independent experts, including a forensic videographer and a pathologist, submitting the case to the Utah attorney general's office, and retaining a respected outside private investigator to conduct an independent assessment," the mayor said. The statement added that the police department, medical examiner, independent pathologist, attorney general’s office and private investigator "have reached the same conclusion. Michael Junior's death was a result of an overdose with no evidence of foul play." The council encouraged the family to submit any new evidence for review.

The family said it does not seek litigation but wants accuracy in official records and transparency about investigative steps; the council’s statement emphasized sympathy for the family and an openness to reconsider any new, verifiable information. No formal council action was taken at the meeting to change the investigation status; the city reiterated that it will evaluate any new evidence that is provided.

What’s next: The council invited the family to provide copies of documents and metadata to the city for review. The city’s statement makes clear multiple internal and external reviews have been completed; the family has publicly requested an independent review beyond those steps.