By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

“Protector.” That is the one word that Santino Ysasi’s sister said would best describe her bother.

“He was the big brother of seven,” said Christina Mller, of Greenville, adding there were eight children in their family. “He looked out for us. He mostly taught us what life was about. He was the protector.”

Ysasi, 46, was killed on Oct. 19 at around 3:30 a.m. behind the now closed St. James Catholic Church on Bridge Street NW. Someone discovered his body around 9:45 a.m. The Kent County Meidical Examiner ruled the death a homicide but has not shared how Santino “Tino” Ysasi died.

Family man

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Ysasi worked for his grandfather, Martin Morales, who owned Little Mexico Cafe on Grand Rapids’ West Side. He also worked worked at Adobe, Beltline Bar, and Casa Martina. He was a businessman, running a business removing personal items after an eviction. He also worked at Fence Consultants, running a crew for the company, and eventually did roadside service.

Recently, Ysasi had fallen on hard times and was homeless, living behind the St. James Catholic Church.

“He was not one to ask for help,”Miller said, adding that most of the family were unaware that he was homeless. “Living in Greenville, I would see him at family events and he never said anything about needing help.

“If I had known, I would have had him come up and stay with me. He would not have liked it because he was city boy,” she said with a small laugh, “but he didn’t say anything and I think it was because he didn’t want to put any stress on me.”

Along with leaving behind his siblings and mother, Ysasi was the father of five and the grandfather of two. Family was important to Ysasi, Miller said, adding he did everything he could to support his family.

Reward raised to $5,000

His family is hoping that a recent increase to reward money for tips to the person or persons responsible for the death of Ysasi, will help bring closure. The reward money for tips is now $5,000.

“It is really hard to move forward because we don’t know why,” Miller said. “It is the reason I decided to add the $1,800 to put the award at $5,000. The economy is a little tough right now and I am hoping this will help encourage people to come forward.”

Earlier this month, the Grand Rapids Police released video of a person walking around the scene and are hoping people will take note of how the individual is dressed and other features to help identify who the person is.

“No one can figure out why,” Miller said. “We have talked to those in the homeless community and they have told us Tino always keep things cool and tried to work things out between people.

“For now the focus is on gettin justice for Tino and proving the family with some peace.”

Anyone with information about Santino’s homicide and who is involved is urged to contact the Grand Rapids Police Major Case Team at 616-456-3380 or Silent Observer, safely and anonymously, at 616-774-2345 or at silentobserver.org. State law protects Silent Observer’s tips and records which assures anonymity. Silent Observer will pay the enhanced $5,00 reward for information given to one of its tip lines that leads to the killer’s arrest.

Hoping to make a difference

Miller said while the family can not rollback time and prevent what happened to Ysasi, they do recognize they can make a difference to those living on the street. It is why they are giving back to the homeless community by hosting a hot dog event in March.

“Having the opportunity to talk to so many people in this community and hear their stories, especially during the candlelight vigil for Tino, it really has changed my perspective on when I see someone on the street asking for a dollar,” Miller said.