U.P. Man Sentenced to Life in Prison

Eugene Rantanen was convicted of killing his 19-month-old son, Carter

MARQUETTE – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Eugene Walter-George Rantanen, 37, of L’Anse was sentenced to life in prison for murder and first-degree child abuse. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney commented that the sentence imposed “will do justice” given the defendant’s “horrendous treatment” of his 19-month-old son.

The evidence at trial showed that Rantanen had care and custody of his minor son, Carter, on the night of February 19, 2024. The two were alone at their home on the L’Anse Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community when Rantanen called 911 to report that the nineteen-month-old boy was not breathing. Despite rapid and extensive medical intervention involving three different hospitals, the toddler succumbed to his head injuries on February 24. Numerous treating providers testified that Carter had suffered from abusive assault and inflicted trauma, and the medical examiner found that Carter’s cause of death was blunt-force trauma and the manner of death was homicide. Based on the nature of Carter’s injuries, the government argued that Rantanen was the only person with means and opportunity to commit the murder. The jury agreed, convicting Rantanen of both counts.

“This toddler’s life was tragic. His birth mother had arranged for him to be adopted by a loving family, but Rantanen insisted on having custody of Carter and all evidence suggests that, instead of loving and doting on and caring for Carter, Rantanen subjected him to months of abuse and neglect,” said U.S. Attorney VerHey. “Although this sentence will not bring this little boy back, we hope it provides some measure of justice and comfort to those who loved Carter, including his birth mother, adoptive parents, and family. My office will work tirelessly, even in difficult cases, to see that offenders are held accountable and justice is done.”

“The conviction of Eugene Rantanen further ensures the public that this child predator and murderer will never again have the opportunity to harm another innocent young soul,” said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I would like to first thank our dedicated team out of the FBI Marquette Resident Agency, whose tireless efforts made this outcome possible. This success was the result of our close partnership with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police, Village L’Anse Police, Baraga County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. To the family and loved ones of the innocent child, I extend my deepest condolences. The FBI in Michigan remains unwavering in protecting our children and reassuring our communities that justice will be served.”

The FBI, the Michigan State Police, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police, the Baraga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Village of L’Anse Police Department investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexis M. Sanford, Jeanne F. Long, and Theodore J. Greeley prosecuted it.

This case was part of the Department of Justice’s work to combat the missing and murdered indigenous person’s (MMIP) crisis.  Per the Bureau of Indian Affairs, “For decades, Native American and Alaska Native communities have struggled with high rates of assault, abduction, and murder of tribal members. Community advocates describe the crisis as a legacy of generations of government policies of forced removal, land seizures and violence inflicted on Native peoples.”  The BIA website has more information about the MMIP crisis at https://www.bia.gov/service/mmu/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-crisis