Officers responding to a welfare check request discovered Kivela’s body about 1 p.m. Eastern time at his out-of-district home just northwest of the state Capitol, Lansing police spokesman Robert Merritt told The Associated Press. “At this point there are no obvious indications of foul play,” Merritt said.

An autopsy is expected to determine how Kivela died.

The third-term Democrat was arrested about 4:45 p.m. Monday when he was stopped by deputies on southbound U.S. 127 near Maple Rapids in Clinton County, Sheriff Lawrence Jerue said.

Jerue said Kivela was jailed and released Tuesday on bond. He would not discuss why Kivela was arrested and said formal charges were expected to be issued at a May 18 arraignment.

MICHIGAN HOUSE MINORITY Leader Sam Singh, back to camera, hugs state Rep. Robert Kosowski on the House floor in Lansing, Mich., after learning of the death of Rep. John Kivela of Marquette on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Christopher Ehrmann)

The Detroit Free Press reported Kivela was arrested for suspected drunken driving.

Kivela pleaded guilty to drunken driving in December 2015 after being arrested the previous month in Clinton County.

House members became silent Tuesday afternoon at the state Capitol after Speaker Tom Leonard announced Kivela’s death. Lawmakers later hugged and consoled each other inside the chamber. Some remained seated as the room emptied.

The House canceled Wednesday’s session and no attendance will be taken Thursday.

“He was going through stuff, and we knew it,” said Rep. Andy Schor, a Democrat from Lansing. “I thought he was doing OK. It shows that you never know the person next to you, know what’s going on in their life. It could be great. It could be awful.”

Kivela served as minority vice chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. He also was on the House Energy Policy Committee.

Schor said he and Kivela would invite other lawmakers to Kivela’s home in Lansing.

“Just so we could know each other, both sides of the aisle — just sit there and talk,” Schor said. “We work so hard in our districts and we work so hard here in Lansing that you don’t always have the time to get to know the other people, and John wanted that to happen.

“You know everyone is going to kick themselves for not trying to get a hold of him this morning and show him that we love him,” Schor added.

Gov. Rick Snyder said he and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley spent much of Friday with Kivela while attending various events in Marquette.

“He was a great person and this is very sad news,” Snyder said. “John was a tremendous partner in the Legislature who always put the needs of his constituents in Marquette and the Upper Peninsula first.”

Leonard, a Republican from DeWitt, called Kivela’s death “a terrible loss.”

“He was a good friend and partner to everyone he met in the House, and he was an absolute joy to work with,” Leonard said. “He cared deeply about his family, his community and his work as a public servant — and it came through strongly in every conversation we had.”

Kivela served as Marquette’s mayor from 2008 to 2012. He also worked as general manager of a used car dealership.

After his arrest in November 2015, Kivela apologized to his family and constituents and said he had “battled alcoholism” for most of his adult life. A spokesman later said Kivela had entered treatment and was focused on getting better.

Nearing the end of his time in the state House due to term limits, Kivela had announced in April he would run for the 38th District state Senate seat now held by Tom Casperson, also restricted from running again for his office.

Casperson joined many of Kivela’s House colleagues in extending condolences to Kivela’s wife, Sandy, and two children.

“Like many in the U.P., I lost a dear friend with the tragic passing of John Kivela. My staff and I feel profound sadness over John’s death, as he was like a part of our office through the kindness and support he offered to us,” Casperson said in a written statement.

“I choose to remember John through the many happy times we shared, through the friendship he offered and through assistance he provided to me and to so many of the constituents we shared,” Casperson said. “I also will remember the many legislative successes that were the result of the U.P. legislators coming together and focusing on the issue and not the ideology.

“It is part of John’s legacy and one we would do well to remember. Frankly, the working relationship that the U.P. delegation formed was the result of John’s outreach and personality. I will forever remember our first spaghetti dinner together — while the homemade dinner John prepared for us was delicious, it was laughs and the personal stories we shared that birthed the start of a friendship that I am so grateful to have enjoyed. He is already missed and he will always remain in our hearts.”