Ron Ilitch, son of Mike Ilitch, dead at age 61

Ronald Tyrus Ilitch, one of the seven adult children of Michigan business magnates Mike and Marian Ilitch, died Friday of a suspected drug overdose in a Troy hotel.

Ron Ilitch, 61, was found dead in a room at the Troy Marriott on Big Beaver, according to police. He was on probation at the time.

The Ilitch family issued a statement late Friday afternoon, saying members of the family are mourning his death.

"On behalf of my mother Marian Ilitch and our entire family, I want to express our sadness and grief at Ron’s passing," Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, said in the statement. "We’re devastated about this loss, and we ask for respect of the family’s privacy during this difficult time."

Ron Ilitch had a history of personal struggles and run-ins with the law, including a 2014 misdemeanor cocaine conviction.

State records indicate that he was on probation until May for a more recent offense. Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections, said the MDOC was supervising him on behalf of Colorado for an operating while intoxicated offense that occurred in that state.

His supervision conditions included staying away from drugs and alcohol, and making "genuine efforts" to find employment.

He was not involved in the family's many businesses, which include Little Caesars pizza, MotorCity Casino Hotel and ownership of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings.

Troy Police Sgt. Meghan Lehman said the circumstances of the hotel death are still under investigation.

“We will be making contact with anyone else that was in the room and speaking with everyone that could have been a witness,” she said.

Family patriarch Mike Ilitch died on Feb. 10, 2017 at age 87.