Prosecutor denies Oakland County Child Killer case was obstructed, debunks other myths
The Michigan State Police and their “proud tradition.”
When the OCCK task force was “rejuvenated” in 2005 there was some press coverage of the efforts being made by the MSP. In none of those articles or news clips could I find a request by detectives to the public to come forward with information and who and how to contact the state police. Because I have a couple thousand editors, I’m sure one of you will let me know if I missed an MSP statement asking the public for help.
Since October 26, 2009, when Marney Rich Keenan’s front page article “Finding Timmy’s Killer,” the Michigan State Police have used the same playbook they always do. Initially, they are somewhat cordial, until someone starts asking questions. Then it’s the silent treatment and/or gaslighting.
See, for example “A Father’s Mission: Victim’s dad demands to know why 4 child murders remain unsolved after 40 years,” by Kevin Davis for the American Bar Association Journal (Feb. 1, 2017), https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/oakland_county_child_killings. In the article, attorney Lisa Milton observed that when my Dad started asking the MSP questions,”was when they started being resistant.”
In the 11 years since my Dad went public with the failings of the legal system in this case, the Michigan State Police have actually responded in the press three times.
October 26, 2009, The Detroit News:
“There has been a lot of frustration felt by the Kings over the past couple of weeks,” said State Police Captain Harold Love, second district commander in charge of Southeast Michigan, which oversees the task force. Love said meetings with the kings had to be rescheduled due to some “issues” within the task force.
“I don’t blame them at all. We had some issues within the task force as far as where information was coming from and what information was out there and things people were saying and we needed to get the task force all on the same page.”
And then on November 7, 2009:
“We are hoping there will come a point and time to bring this together and have everybody come together and present a conclusion to the public and to everybody else so we can put this thing to bed.”
Captain Harold Love, as quoted in the Macomb Daily News. https://catherinebroad.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-03-31_204751.pdf
And yesterday–11 years later–an unnamed coward from the MSP in response to Marney Keenan’s book, The Snow Killings, Inside the Oakland County Child Killer Investigation:
“We don’t comment on fiction.”
Is this how you display your PROUD tradition of SERVICE through EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, and COURTESY?
The MSP is still operating in the Dark Ages. Could this be the impetus behind Dana Nessel’s new Criminal Investigative Division? https://wwmt.com/news/state/nessel-announces-creation-of-criminal-investigations-division-of-attorney-generals-office. I wouldn’t want to rely on the state police, either.
Barring some massive reorganization and shift from its good-old-boy roots, the MSP should never again be put in charge of any major case or cold case. The MSP should be assisting local agencies, not being the God of cases.
You never asked for the public’s help. Not once since that shitty, inaccurate and confusing press release about cars in September 1978. Your tip line is essentially unmanned. A common theme heard among people who came forward with information–back in 1976, 1977, 1978 and every year since is that they have not been heard. Your circular file has received heavy use.
Yesterday there were two well-respected journalists on camera with the parent of a murdered child. Yet no one from your agency could appear on camera to give even a short update on where the case is headed. Of course you couldn’t resist that unprofessional comment. That is who you are. The MSP has used up all of its good faith. Time to have another agency pick up the pieces “and put this thing to bed.”