Tonight this segment aired on the 6 o’clock news on WDIV Channel 4-Detroit:
The courage it took for these two men to speak, on camera no less, about their victimization by Frank (Francis) Shelden and Jerry (Gerald) Richards is unbelievable. I’ve written about Frank Shelden and his cronies and the N. Fox Island “boys nature camp” a few times on my blog. See, for example, https://catherinebroad.blog/2013/03/12/north-fox-island-circa-1975-76/. Author M.F. Cribari discusses this and more in Portraits in the Snow: The Oakland County Child Killings . . . Scandals and Small Conspiracies (2011), https://www.amazon.com/Portraits-Snow-Killings-Scandals-Conspiracies/dp/1432768026. J. Reuben Appelman writes about it all in The Kill Jar, Obsession, Descent, and a Hunt for Detroit’s Most Notorious Serial Killer (2018), https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Jar-Obsession-Detroits-Notorious/dp/1507204027/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MWBZ9YZ9EA6DDP042NPK.
Every 98 seconds a person is sexually assaulted in this county. https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence. According to RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network), 1 in 10 children will be abused before their 18th birthday. They say 1 in 7 girls and 1 in 25 boys. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports childhood sexual abuse before the age of 17 at closer to 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys. https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications_nsvrc_factsheet_media-packet_statistics-about-sexual-violence_0.pdf.
According to the website Darkness to Light, End Childhood Sexual Abuse, “[c]hild sexual abuse is likely the most prevalent health problem children face with the most serious array of consequences. https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications_nsvrc_factsheet_media-packet_statistics-about-sexual-violence_0.pdf. According to this site, only about 38% of child victims disclose; some never, ever disclose. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center states that only 12% of child sexual abuse is reported to authorities. According to Child USA, studies show that the average age to disclose is 52, with the median age 48. https://www.childusa.org/sol/. According to Darkness to Light, there are at least 42 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the United States today.
That’s a lot of people carrying a tremendous amount of pain for many decades. Thank you to these two brave men for shining a light on the monsters out there who look normal but are anything but. Frank Shelden should have been writing checks to all of his victims via civil suits. In fact, I think his heirs should write big, fat checks to nonprofits like RAINN, Darkness to Light, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Child USA. You got more than blood money; you got horror money.
I am assuming there will be more of these interviews on tonight when WDIV airs the hour-long show about the child killings. Thanks again for your courage gentlemen.
I’m here with you bud.
All I can say is that I hope your dad and family get this found out. Always sending positive thoughts man. Joe
Hi Cathy. I watched it and thought about you during the entire show. I am surprised Patterson was interviewed. I wondered about how you felt when he was speaking. The segment on Ted Lamborgine really brought back the nightmare of my sick Pastor and wondered and hoped he was watching this and every single person who went to our church who vilified me for speaking out just who our pastor was taking money from and who still is to this day. It still bothers me so much. There is more to that story for sure. I hope and pray Ted talks before he dies. I too feel Chris Busch was involved but was killed probably to make him the suspect to end the investigation. I hope and pray your sweet father can see some answers and justice. The two men who spoke so raw and candidly about Sheldon and Fox Island was heart breaking to listen to. The fact there was a gym teacher from the Catholic school and the connection with my old Pastor and Ted makes me so certain there is more to the story. It makes me wonder what activities with young children our pastor was involved in. I hope and pray Cory Williams will talk to Dennis Rasper and press into him to get the real truth about his relationship with Ted. I know Ted is the one who has the answers. I hope and pray he starts talking. Finally, Jessica Cooper and her little spiel about not wanting to talk to the families about the case because it’s just too painful….no what’s painful is them not solving this and getting justice and giving answers to the families. She is an idiot. God bless you and your family.
Jessie Kanehl
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Thanks, Jessie.
Really impressed by the series. As the one man says at the end of Chapter 1 of the docuseries, there’s a special place in Hell for people like Jerry Richards and Frank Shelden. Same goes for Ted Lamborgine. The footage of him made me physically sick. Your pastor sounds awful. He may have a seat reserved as well. Start talking Dennis Rasper. Cooper and Patterson—no surprises there. Never have seen Paul Walton speak before. Smarmy. Oakland County gets what it deserves, I guess. I commend WDIV for the show and the docuseries. It will get people talking.
I don’t know what church you belonged to or who your pastor was but I am positive that several Catholic priests were at least in-the-know about all this, if not personally involved, because pederasts stick together for two reasons. !) they like to swap victims and 2) they share information about what law enforcement measures are up to.
No doubt. We were parishioners at St. Alan (I recall Fr. Lisee and Fr. Fraile). But we had been attending mass at Holy Name for a few years by 1977. Don’t remember any names–I rarely attended. There were all kinds of priests with this “problem” back in the day. I ran across quite a few in my research.
When I was 8 I was molested by a youth pastor of a warren michigan baptist church. When I spoke up I explained what I knew. Later on I started remembering things. This man played this game where he would wrestle and eventually he would put a pillow over my face and push down really hard. It scared me and I didn’t like it. When I reported the guy I only spoke of sexual things he did. To me i didn’t realize he was trying to kill me. He also was molesting me at a church summer camp in Indiana if i remember correctly they were all primarily baptist churches and it was toward the southern area of Indiana and there were girls and boys. I did mention that to police. But what gets me is they didn’t investigate all the other churches. This person had other victims that at 1 time tried to come forward but was dismissed by their family because of being so involved with the church or people who refuse to come forward which I know for certain of. Now when this man got sentenced they didn’t even give him day in jail just like christopher Bush just some probation to sit on. This man would not have been old enough to be the killer that I am certain. But he clearly could have been a victim of another church or a relative. I find it quite ironic he was planning on killing me. He knew I would speak up you know. The worst part is the case was from the 90s and warren PD would never reconsider additional statements. But the way I look at it is he was probably in a large pedophile accepting community growing up. I heard a few years ago he tried to become a youth pastor at another church and they turned him down. Hmmm I wonder why. It also hurt me that later down the road I became homeless and needed help and I didn’t want to be the one to write a Scarlett letter to the church but l called that church and explained of me being homeless and how my life was torn upside down after what happened all those years ago and how it changed my views about religion and god. I asked them anything I mean anything at all you can do to help me would be appreciated. The lady kept refurring me to food banks and homeless shelters and kept asking well don’t you have friends. Its sad you know how the church plays such a huge role on protecting the people at the top who are doing wrong but then again society is not much different. I remember going to court and point the son of bitch out in front of all his members who decided to go in support of him. At least he is on the sex offender registry for life. I know my life will never be the same because od what happened to me when I was 8 and had to live with a pedophile youth pastor while he pretended to be helping a struggling mother who had no where for herself and her kids to go whole balancing our housing situation
Amen Cathy. Very brave men indeed. We need even more to tell their story, not just to help solve these horrific crimes, but to help them begin to heal, get strong and get closure. As a therapist I see many adults who were abused as children and the healing is possible when they take these first steps. I wish your family, and all the families, healing from the knowledge that I pray continues to surface.
Many blessings to you as you continue to fight for your brother’s and your family’s peace.
Gerald Richards. Not just a new name but a photo. I am really hopeful that the truth is just below the surface and about to come out. Cathy, how can those of us who don’t live in Detroit see the episodes? I’ve emailed Click twice but get no answers. Thanks
they are all on youtube
The Oakland County Grand Jury indicted and convicted two individuals in cold case murders. The public announcement in one case stated the prosecutor used mDNA evidence and I confirmed this with the defendant’s attorney. This is directly contradictory to the statement Paul Walton made in his presentation regarding the use of the mDNA evidence from Vince Gunnels found on the jacket of Kristine Michelich in the OCCK investigation. A prosecutor should only talk from one side of his mouth. This is not the only inconsistent position form his office in the OCCK case.
Jessica Cooper has concluded that the Christopher Busch was not a suspect in the OCCK murders. This is directly contrary to information I obtained after December 15, 2010 from the Michigan State Police. Richard Thompson. the Chief Assistant Prosecutor in 1977 and subsequent Prosecutor, and David Gorsyka. the predecessor to Ms, Cooper, advised the revitalized 2005 OCCK Task Force that Mr. Busch was the principal suspect.
Hopefully these and several other inconsistencies will be clarified by Cineflix Films, Reset Films and Marney Keenan. The Cineflix program will be on Investigation Discovery next Monday and Tuesday. The Reset program is still being filmed and Ms. Keenan’s book will be published this summer.
I watched the full 5 docuseries. I am assuming that people are assuming that christopher busch was paying gunnels to abduct kids. Christopher busch was then holding these kids captive and raping these kids and possibly taking pictures and trading or selling them amongst the pedophile community. One of his buyers probably lamborgine. Lamborgine must have knew or known of the situation. In which the pedophile community knew of chris busch and what he was doing and aided in covering it up. Im curious what kind of archive there is with the FBI with child pornography evidence from the 70s and if any of those images would match facial reconition to any of these victims. Sounds to me the problem is the people who know something wont talk because they have sex victims of there own and would fear backlash. Start prosecuting these old sex cases and investigate the evidence from those child porn cases. I highly doubt the FBI doesnt have archives of child porn from that era.
I watched the full 5 docuseries. I am assuming that people are assuming that christopher busch was paying gunnels to abduct kids. Christopher busch was then holding these kids captive and raping these kids and possibly taking pictures and trading or selling them amongst the pedophile community. One of his buyers probably lamborgine. Lamborgine must have knew or known of the situation. In which the pedophile community knew of chris busch and what he was doing and aided in covering it up. Im curious what kind of archive there is with the FBI with child pornography evidence from the 70s and if any of those images would match facial reconition to any of th
It was so brave of these men to come forward, and I’m glad that the news special discussed Shelden and N. Fox Island. I have been aware of this because of your blog as well as reading “Portraits in the Snow.” Not only do I think the connection run deep, and high (in terms of people in power), but I think they span the globe. I believe Shelden fled to somewhere where he was protected and probably kept up his sick activities.
Very good docuseries bringing key elements of the case – and the possible links among them – up to date through facts and personal accounts, not rumors. The clearest logical outline of important events I’ve seen on video. A chance to hear from those inside the case, and a seemingly hopeful message by Cory Williams that a resolution is on the horizon. If so, I have little doubt the Kings and other families will be found to have nearly resolved the case with what little has been confirmed for them. It’s understandable the JC / OCPO can’t “declare” Busch is the perp (as he is gone). But, why she cannot publicly state that he is a consideration is dumbfounding (see Mr. King’s comments above). I wouldn’t be surprised if the FBI were able one day to state that, related to MI cases, they uncovered a web of criminal enterprise stretching across the country and through Europe dating back to the 70s.
I lived very near Chris Busch’s brother and nephews in 1977. We used to ride bikes or skateboard to Hunter-Maple pharmacy all the time. To hear that Vince Gunnels was a close friend to the nephews, has testified he was abused by Busch, with the evidence of his link to one of the crimes, the proximity of the residence to Hunter-Maple pharmacy, the lightening-fast processing of Busch’s death, the lack of remaining physical evidence, and finally, Pat Coffey’s account … well, that just puts it all together for me in my mind. But I’m no investigator.
An astounding tragedy – the possibility that Tim’s abduction could have been prevented, and as a result, a possible mess of corruption and obstruction. If the truth might never see the light of day, may we at least gain access to all there is to be known.
Thank you…. I am a survivor out of southern jersey…… One of the animals from church of revelation.. James Godwin… Got a hold of me stole My childhood…. With the assist from evil older brother…. Be searching for answers for over forty years…..
I don’t know what church you belonged to or who your pastor was but I am positive that several Catholic priests were at least in-the-know about all this, if not personally involved, because pederasts stick together for two reasons. !) they like to swap victims and 2) they share information about what law enforcement measures are up to.
Maybe the cops handed down the justice and killedBusch.
That would be a reason everything wrapped up with the task force right after the death of Busch. There were no more killings after Busch died either. Could make sense as to why the investigation never was quite right.
Is there any way to check flight logs to the island at the the time of the abductions?