Dating back 15-some years on internet forums discussing the OCCK case, I always believed Alpena Witness and Berkley Witness were telling the truth about what they saw and heard. Their stories never wavered. They had no motive to lie. They were not treated well when they came forward to police (a massive understatement in the case of Berkley Witness). Alpena Witness, having read Marney Keenan’s book, sent me the following email. No attacks please. Read it and carefully consider what he says before you let your brain shut off.
Hello Cathy;
It’s approaching near three decades (next year will be 30 years even) since I witnessed the most bizarre discussion I ever heard in my life along with someone going over details on maps drawn on the back of restaurant placemats. It’s been maybe about 15 years now since I woke up to what it was all about and started my correspondence with you along with others involved with the case.
There’s no need to go over the same details again and I won’t. I see the same arguments and debates that has been going on for years now though. Different people with same arguments but in some cases, some of the same people with their suspects and stories. Seems beyond pointless to really debate or argue over any of it. Been there so many times before. People out there can believe whatever they want to believe. Because when it comes to the truth over this case, we will probably never know.
If people want to discount Helen’s story and suspect because of her character I guess that’s the easy way out of it. After all, law enforcement has done the same thing since day one. I guess when it comes to hard evidence it’s not there but on the other hand, no one has really taken any steps to go find if something was there.
At least now with Marney’s book I know what really happened when they went to Georgia. Looks like what appeared to be a shoddy investigation if you even want to call it that. Looks like Detective Gray can be blamed for most of it, not Cory. I kind of figured that all along anyway but I really didn’t know for sure. Try to understand that no one ever really told me what happened in regards to that incident. Cory never got back with me after we talked and now I know why. I’ve always seemed to get the cold shoulder from everyone because of my association with Helen and now I can understand all the more why.
I did talk to both Cory & Gray and my impression of Cory was he really was trying to solve the case and was dedicated to what he was doing. Searching for the truth finding out what he can like someone dedicated should be. I did not get that same impression from Detective Gray. I feel bad now knowing what happen. As I got more involved with the case, I did realize that Helen did lie about things while trying to encourage people to look at her suspect. She did play her games with people. Seems like her life was wrapped around this case and she felt like she owned it. That may be hard to understand but that was the way she was.
Although I don’t support Helen and all of her doings, I will say that her claims she made about John’s discussions with her at Big Boy did take place. That is the truth and nothing changes that. It did happen. I will still stand behind that and I always will.
Because of Helen’s character it’s not been easy to approach all the people I did but I felt they must know the truth. Except for Cory, all the rest of the cops made it a joke. I tried to explain to Mr. King and even had a brief discussion with Marney over the matter. With her it was just that Helen is a nut and nothing was discussed beyond that.
If I had to do anything over I don’t think I would change anything although it’s been frustrating as hell but deep down inside I feel I’ve tried to do everything possible to let people know the truth. Otherwise my conscience would really bother me. If anyone witness something similar out there from back in time and can help this case along, please come forward.
With these very recent developments with the Wilson hypnosis sketches further tells a story. Just due to the very fact that these composite sketches never saw the light of day until now either makes all the more evident of a ‘cover up’ or ‘lack of investigation’. Or maybe both! This is especially true when seeing the haunting similarity to the first OCCK sketch that came out. Who in their right mind in law enforcement would keep this from the public? What is also shocking is how much it matches Helen’s suspect even more than the OCCK sketches did! I think Helen would be rolling over in her grave about now to see that.
To you Cathy although we don’t agree over some matters with this case, it never stopped the correspondence we’ve had over the years. Make no secret to anyone that I’ve tried to help when I can over some things. Wish the best for some type of resolution on this case regardless of where it points to or who it points to.
Sincerely,
Alpena Witness
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Never, not once, was this man rude to me, although as he points out we had our disagreements. He has always been helpful. He met face-to-face with the cops, he didn’t just post in anonymous forums. The MSP dissed him, as they do anyone who comes forward in this case. Sadly, his treatment by the MSP over a decade ago was very prescient.
A few words about Berkley Witness. He is not lying. Kids don’t lie unless they have a real good motive. Police dogged him for decades after he, as a kid, called the tip line and later had a most unpleasant sit down with some cops who visited his school. He is not crazy, he is not “nuts.” I believe two very dirty cops, who dogged this man and ultimately inflicted unwarranted, serious bodily injury to him, were trying to kill him to silence him and for payback. One of these cops is still alive. He and anyone he might have carrying out his dirty work should be watched carefully, if you ask me. When a dirty cop tells you someone is crazy–consider the source. These abusers of power and civil rights gaslight and lie 24/7. That’s how they manage to keep their “reputation” and still do whatever the fuck they want. Consider the recent revelations about “Officer Friendly” if you want to argue with me on this.
Berkley Witness is not lying. Not about what he saw, not about what the cops did to him and his friends. It should have resulted in a massive lawsuit and numerous criminal charges. I could weep just thinking about what those cops did and got away with. So frustrating. But it is easier for “society” to say he is lying or “nuts” and that these cops were “good men.” The easy way out. Always. Especially in suburbia.
So many innocent people have been damaged and abused in the wake of this investigation. The crimes were heinous enough without compounding them by abusing people who tried to do the right thing.