I didn’t revamp the blog theme yet, but I did spend a lot of time this weekend responding to emails people have sent me in this case and filing many documents I allow to stack until I can’t take it any more. I really cannot respond to all of the emails, but I hate not acknowledging them. I read them all but I get really behind when I attempt to respond. I appreciate the emails and apologize for not responding promptly or, in some cases, at all. My favorite subject line is “No need to respond.” (Sorry, it’s true.)
As I sifted through the emails and documents they provoked a lot of emotion for me. Like this set of emails:
THIS IS NOT AN OPEN INVESTIGATION. Holding out the very empty charade of DNA testing after almost 50 years of improperly storing your mishandled and misfiled evidence is not a reason to stay silent. How about a statement about why testing garbage evidence gives garbage results? You may not have anything to “report” but we have questions. We deserve an audience and answers. People have a right to know.
The MSP took the position in 2009 and 2012, when questioned by reporters at The Detroit News (Marney Keenan) and the Detroit Free Press (David Ashenfelter) that they could/would not comment on an open investigation. My brother Chris was quoted in the October 26, 2009, Detroit News article as follows:
“We want some justice for the victims. We’ve been told evidence is apparently lost; tests were supposedly conducted, but there have been no results for over a year. We never get a straight story.” . . . “That’s all we’ve asked for. We just want the truth to come out.”
In the 2012 Free Press article, reporter Ashenfelter commented on the failure of the MSP to communicate and allowed that this caused family members to fill in the gaps with “conspiracy theories.” Conspiracies are very real, Mr. Ashenfelter. “Conspiracy theories” means bullshit. Still think it’s all bullshit? I bet you don’t.
It is 2023. In what other high profile cold case can you think of where an agency simply doubles-down, refuses to move the ball, refuses to report anything to the public or the families, displays the utter lack of compassion that the MSP (and the OCP and OCS) has here and just waits for every family member to die off? I’m sure there is an FBI case or two where this method has been employed–UFO cases, other big “conspiracy theory” cases. Let’s hear from you readers, where else have you seen this level of obstruction? This case falls in to the stonewalling Hall of Shame.
As I said in my last post, the agencies paid to pretend to massage the OCCK files and keep the truth suppressed or muddled aren’t going to bring anybody up to speed. That’s why you should sign up for Marney Keenan’s presentation this Wednesday at 7 pm ET. https://farmingtoncommunity.librarycalendar.com/event/snow-killings-inside-oakland-county-child-killer-investigation
As another reader pointed out, Wednesday is 47 years to the day that Mark Stebbins, age 12, was abducted in Ferndale. Forty-seven years. How do you say “no comment” to THAT?
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Poor mark. This is so Disgusting. Unfortunately in the 40+ cold case family-mom murdered in ‘78. Nothing but stonewalling, lost/mishandled evidence. And we’re supposed to trust law enforcement? Don’t think so.
Prayers for truth and justice and peace
In 2006, as the 30th anniversary of Tim’s murder approached, my dad and one of my brothers contacted the MSP to offer to speak on camera about the case and ask for people to come forward who know something. Then Det/Sgt Garry Gray quickly responded, asked them to stay quiet and informed them about the Lamborgine investigation, saying that they were trying to put the squeeze on old Ted and that any media attention might disrupt their efforts.
We were put off for another three years after which my dad, in complete frustration, contacted one of his friends at The Detroit News, who suggested he speak with reporter Marney Keenan. She ran with the story in late October 2009. Fourteen years later the MSP still refuses to comment on the status of the case. They might be getting “many” requests for interviews, but show me one time in the past decade (and well, well before that) they have granted an interview about the status of this investigation.