Earlier this week a reader asked for working links to the June 17 and 18, 2012 series about the OCCK case written by David Ashenfelter for the Detroit Free Press. These papers do not maintain online archives; the links expire. So you have to hit up Newspapers.com ($). I pulled out my hard copy of those papers and reread them.

In an article with the headline “Decades of Despair and Still No Peace,” Ashenfelter observes: “Though it is not uncommon for families in unsolved homicides to become hostile with authorities, it is unusual for them to complain publicly, sue and demand that the investigation be reassigned to another agency.” I’ll tell you what is uncommon. A county as corrupt as Oakland County, Michigan, and a state police force willing to play hide the ball.

In 2012 was this story was still being pitched as cops and prosecutors doing the best they could, bemoaning how their hands are tied, blah, blah, blah; and the families portrayed as simply angry, limited and disappointed–how dare we complain publicly, sue for documents we were entitled to by statute, and demand that the fox no longer guard the henhouse?! Silly people. Get over it.

I received the following encrypted email some seven months ago. The writer expresses the hope that some “longtimers” at Oakland County reach out with information, that others have come forward. They have not. Are you surprised?

If you have any information that would help in this case, which most certainly includes breaking down the massive public corruption roadblocks in this case, send an email to occktruth@protonmail.com.