A partial look at the FBI file on Francis Duffield Shelden

Today the FBI responded out of the blue to a FOIA request filed some two years ago by author Marney Keenan on Francis (Frank) Duffield Shelden of N. Fox Island “fame.” I know, right? That waterlogged, missing-in-action file that was given up as a goner floated to the surface. Well at least 367 heavily redacted pages of the 506 pages the FBI reviewed did.

Marney agreed that it is important to get eyes on these documents to help decipher them and illuminate in some sense for the victims of Shelden (and Dyer Grossman) what kind of investigation took place as these two criminals fled justice and left so much hurt and agony in their wake.

Here is the response with explanation of exemptions dated 11-30-22 and sent via email today:

The pages were provided in three segments. As I said, they are heavily redacted. As we all know, the other criminal whose name is redacted (the guy must still be alive) is Dyer Grossman. We know this because of the MSP FOIA response of many years ago concerning Fox Island, as well as by the press clippings included in this FBI file which mention Grossman as the other wanted fugitive.

I will be comparing the information in the MSP FOIA response which contains far fewer documents but is less heavily redacted (you know, how they left some victim names but redacted the names of Better Life Monthly patrons/subscribers–described as a bank president, a juvenile court officer, and a principal?).

Please comment here, rather than emailing me. It will help other readers. I read every email but I literally can no longer acknowledge or respond to every email. If you must email me rather than post here, please use the encrypted email at OCCKtruth@protonmail.com and not my yahoo account. Some of you will have especially valuable insights. Please share them in the comment section.

Wednesday, December 7, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Chesterfield Township (MI) Library

If you are in the area, consider attending Marney Rich Keenan’s book talk about her book The Snow Killings: Inside the Oakland County Child Killer Investigation. Sign up here:

31 N. Saginaw Street, Pontiac, MI, 48340.

This is an in-person event, so you can’t hide online. As the year nears an end I am again struck by the number of people who have come forward since Marney’s book was published in July 2020, the utter failure of police to acknowledge any of these people or the information they were willing to provide, as well as the continued silence of the Michigan State Police about any aspect of this case. I think they are going to regret not speaking with some of these people, but they continue to control the narrative. Once the killing stops, the power goes to the police. Maybe you get a good cop, maybe not. Maybe you get an agency with a decent culture, maybe not. Bring your questions and an open mind and see how cases turn into the coldest of cold cases, served up with a cold shoulder. If you haven’t read the book and you have any interest in or connection to these cases, you should.

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