About three weeks ago a reader wrote (lashed out?) about the ID documentary, Children of the Snow. The documentary aired in February 2019 and was based on the true crime/memoir written by J. Reuben Appelman, The Kill Jar. I decided to watch it again last night. It continues to air on Hulu and is prominently listed in the True Crime offerings. It’s hard to miss.
https://www.hulu.com/series/children-of-the-snow-e5670464-7adc-4907-80c1-9f38ce17ee82
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10019004/
I have heard a number of times some variation of “yeah/but they got [fill in the blank] wrong.” Perfection is not possible in a case shrouded in police/prosecutor secrecy. We all wanted the world to know how fucked up this case is and how these four kids’ lives literally did not matter. It is the only widely distributed (world wide) video coverage of the OCCK case and investigation. Nothing has changed or been addressed since that series aired. Nothing. Advancements in DNA over the past almost five years are meaningless in the face of continued stonewalling.
Had Patrick Coffey not had a chance encounter with Larry Wasser; had my dad not called his old friend at the Detroit News, Judy Diebolt; had M.F. Cribari, J. Reuben Appelman and Marney Keenan not written books about the OCCK case; had Children of the Snow not aired, this case would have stayed in the vault. No one in law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office said dick about this case for 30 years. It was as if these four murders never occurred. The powers that be just rode this “bad publicity” out. Whistleblowers, if any there be, stayed in the dark where they are most comfortable. People who came forward from the public at large after the documentary aired and books were published were simply ignored. There is only one explanation for this, and it is as dark as it gets.
Try watching Children of the Snow again–since the show aired Mark’s brother, Jill’s dad and Tim’s dad have died. Readers, people with their own suspects, trolls and haters can dispute what is presented in the documentary all they want. I defy you to watch and not be affected by the families of these kids who were murdered and then betrayed by Oakland County. At the conclusion of the documentary it is Det. Cory Williams then with WAYNE COUNTY who asks the public for help. The MSP wouldn’t even deign to ask the public for help (they didn’t want it, anyway).
I had forgotten that then county executive, L. Brooks Patterson, blathers on in the documentary about the blue Gremlin and his charade of abandoning the Fourth Amendment to search blue Gremlins without probable cause while he was prosecutor during the OCCK reign of terror.
As I recall, the filming for the documentary took place in the spring of 2018 and was wrapping up in July of that year. As I said, it aired in February 2019.
About a month later, Patterson announced that he had received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on March 15. He died on August 3, 2019, still in the county exec drivers seat as he had been since 1992. He spent a nanosecond in private practice after leaving the prosector’s office before claiming the throne in OC for the rest of his life. At the “control panel” for his entire life after the OCCK case.
If Busch was set up to take the fall for the OCCK crimes, you still have to ask why this was dusted under the rug so quickly. Why those present at the “suicide” scene were admonished “not to say anything?” Why there is virtually no document obtained via FOIA showing that this strange death scene was investigated to rule Busch out as an OCCK participant or to investigate who would have set him up like this? It just went away. Poof.
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Hey Cathy. We spoke about this on an actual phone call. I said, “The Busch family was allowed to keep the rifle. However, the King family was not allowed to keep the skate board.” That was a low quality, throw away rifle. I can cope with the suicide, homicide and assault cases. The kidnappings haunt me forever as does this case. I get doubly upset about the Detroit media that does zero on this case. I feel so bad for the families and we knew the Robinsons.
A few weeks ago one of my brothers asked about a framed signed photo of baseball player Jim Northrup. Police took it to be processed for Tim’s fingerprints while he was missing. My mom gave it to them because it was one of Tim’s prized possessions and they assumed the glass might have his fingerprints. It hung over his bed. My brother asked if it could be located and returned to us. The evidence list they sent us of course did not mention this frame. It was a long shot. It must be with the ropes from the Busch “suicide” scene.
Was that Bloomfield police ? I forgot the brand name, but the Busch rifle was so crappy , ethical salesmen at the K Mart about 10 minutes from the Busch home would not sell it to my parents circa 1977. I am exactly Tim’s age. The Busch family had enough money to buy a nice Browning or Winchester rifle at the old Sportsman in Birmingham. It was a throw gun. I doubt a hitman would have used it.
That was from Joe. Forgot to sign in.
Yes, Joe, Bloomfield Township PD, including pedophile cop Richard McNamee who was the first on the scene. Another cop called the task force. Two jokers showed up. Davis was one of them–I need to double-check. Neither one would speak with Cory Williams decades later.
John Davis (Oakland County Sheriff) and Ron Pearce (Ferndale) .
Thank you, G-Man!
Cory is a great man and is cordial with me.
I watch a lot of true crime on netflix & Hulu .I’m surprised that your disgruntled reader didn’t take away the most glaring difference. The OCCK documentary seems to be the only one where DNA wasn’t exhausted and the case reached a conclusion. It’s full of grown men crying and hanging their heads in frustration.
Maybe someone can help me with dates, facts and correct me where I’m wrong. Barry King received FOIA papers around 2012? Most likely prep for processing those papers might have been much earlier to go thru them and gather them. (A year or two maybe?) It took a few years to discover the Hastings Georgia 2009 polygraph Duncan conclusions which were very telling and were buried deep in the docs in a different area. The conclusions was that Hastings personally knew Busch and was involved with the murders someway which contradicted earlier interviews done with him. In print it showed there was DVD data and other results of the polygraph itself in existence at one time. In addition to this there was a time I believe I saw somewhere a record of the sketch left at Busch murder along with other artifacts which were checked out. The original sketch (which could provide valued evidence now days) was checked out by someone and never returned supposedly. Assuming someone left a copy of the sketch in the files instead at that point. Is it possible that the original sketch became missing around the same time as the polygraph results went missing? Perhaps someone discovered how damning the combined evidence really was and could not allow that to ever see the light of day? Maybe I’m wrong somewhere on this so please correct me.
I’m traveling, I, but when I return I will set out the dates of the FOIA requests. The denials by the MSP and OSP both proceeded to litigation. The MSP then decided to respond with documents but the case against the OCP went up and down the appellate court ladder.
Whoever redacted those MSP documents knew what they were doing. I want to know who was involved in the redaction process. Of course they missed the notes about the Hastings polygraph in GA, but whoever was redacting was more concerned with what took place in January and early February 1977.
The initial OCP FOIA response (after all that litigation, the petty prosecutor handed over documents to the press and was then required to give copies to my dad. There are some illegal and telling redactions in those documents as well, including the “whiting-out” of some dates and signatures.
Any agency that would take the steps to illegally redact would be more than capable of “losing” evidence.
Very interesting. It will always bother me that we will never know the real truth of that polygraph and how those conclusions were drawn from it like they were. To keep it honest, it may be nothing or on the other hand, may very well be what would solve the case or at least shed some light on things. I guess what I don’t recall was where I saw a record and check out of items and something related to the original sketch. I seem to remember hand written notes with initials and dates somewhere in the docs along the way. I tried to find it again and can’t find it.
Cathy, that was my post above as well. Seems like I can post as ‘anonymous’ with ease and sometimes forget to further register with my post name. Maybe something changed on your blog recently that allows this to be done convenient or maybe a new arrangement came thru?
Anyway, I’ve had discussions with others over this ‘thing’ and no one seems to find it or have any memories of it so maybe I just imagined this. To explain further, I saw something in a document once but don’t recall where and should have made a note of it at the time. This was years ago now. I believe this was buried with a bunch of files at the time. It was one of those things where I clicked here and clicked there and quickly glanced at something and got sidetracked with other things going on and was going to go back and further review it but could never find it. What I remember was that it was like a table/index form and I believe some things were typed and some things written by hand and reference to ‘cage’ numbers associated with storage of things if that makes any sense? It had dates and initials for some of the items. I thought I saw the word ‘sketch’ as an item and took it as the Mark’s Sketch that was on Busch wall. I believe there were other items associated with Busch murder scene as well. The cage numbers seemed long with digits and letter sequence. It pisses me off that I could never go back and revisit this. Maybe I dreamed it up as I’ve been frustrated over it. Perhaps posting this it may jog someone’s memories or even have a printed copy? Does the term cage number make sense towards any of this?
I knew it was you, I, but yes sometimes comments come through as “Anonymous” and I think it’s because I don’t require people to sign up to comment. It seemed to slow people down, and there are many people who won’t comment if there is any identifying information about them. Another reader pointed out that the “search” widget had disappeared from my blog at some point and I restored it. (I think!!)
Relatively recently I remember reading something that indicated to me that the sketch still existed (not just copies), but I remember that “common lore” (I don’t know what else to call it) was that this sketch somehow went missing and there were only copies. Kind of like in the N. Fox Island/Frank Shelden case the client list was destroyed once Gerald Richards and Shelden knew the cops were involved versus the client list exists and has been seen by a few people privy to case documents.
That would be absolutely insane for them to have the original sketch and never had any forensic studies done on it to determine the artist trace if possible. But I guess considering all that’s taken place with this case by the ones that seem to be in control, I guess anything is possible.
Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. That sketch looks to be some fine detail by a very skilled artist in my opinion and matches Mark quite well. To produce a sketch like that the old fashion way would require a lot of hand/finger contact with the paper as artist usually hold the paper down with one hand while sketching with the other. Would have to ask a forensic expert what are the odds with the latest forensic technology today if the artist trace could be determined? I would have to believe multiple finger prints and partial finger prints would be on that paper along with possibly skin cells or maybe even oil from the skin in the paper which would be a direct DNA trace. I guess if it was a crime in another state (anywhere but Michigan) much of this would have already been attempted by now. I have my own bets on who the artist may be but I’ve read that just about all the OCCK suspects could have drawn that sketch (Sloan, Greene, Busch, etc). I highly have my doubts on that. It’s a real crime that we don’t even know if they still have the original sketch or not. Absolutely pathetic
Inquisitor, it does not appear that the sketch is in evidence in the OCCK case. On the other hand, the “Allen” letter/card and envelope are (no indication they were ever tested for fingerprints or DNA). It will take me more time to consult the FOIA documents about references to the actual sketch (as opposed to copies of it). This sketch on Busch’s bedroom wall (which one of the nephews tells police in a post-2007 interview was in fact on the bedroom wall before the “suicide” and comments–yeah, it was weird that my grandparents would let that fly in their home) has to be the primary reason the OCCK task force was called to 3310 Morningview Terrace. God only knows what pedophile cop Richard McNamee and Charles Busch got rid of before calling more cops and the coroner’s office to the scene. Everyone who has seen that sketch remarks on how much it resembled Mark, down to the coat he was wearing when he was abducted.
That the original sketch is not a piece of evidence in the OCCK case, when the drawing clearly resembles a screaming Mark Stebbins, is outrageous but not inexplicable. The ropes from the staged scene were destroyed even after lab scientist David Metzger noted in his report that they should be retained for possible future comparison. The gun tucked into bed with Chris Busch was kept by his father, who handed it over to police much later and requested the cheap weapon be returned (WTF?). That helps explain why the actual sketch may not be in any file and may not have even been taken from the scene. Monied constituents get special treatment. And that’s the most charitable interpretation of this.
The outrageous part is that it requires an assumption that the two task force members who showed up, John Davis of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and Ron Pearce of FERNDALE PD (Mark lived in Ferndale), were complete incompetent dumbasses who did not properly handle this obvious evidence of either involvement in Mark’s murder or a set-up in the OCCK crimes. Nothing to see here.
I will continue to hunt for references that the actual sketch was taken as possible evidence in the Busch death investigation or the OCCK case. It was all enough of a big deal that photos were taken of the entire sordid scene and Chris Busch expeditiously dispatched to the crematorium. It seems much more likely to me that a quick check was made of the tips on Chris Busch and that shit was then ditched, arranged for by people in a cold sweat. Either that or when it seemed clear that DNA testing and mtDNA testing might provide some real answers in this case, lots of shit was moved around, “lost,” or misfiled, and maybe even purposely improperly handled and stored. Yes, I mean “on purpose.” Remember all that bullshit in 1999 about the David Norberg exhumation and the “sole” piece of evidence in this case–ONE hair found on my brother’s body? “Look how hard we are trying to close this case–we are even headed out to Big Sky Country to dig this fuck up!”
Cathy Thanks and very interesting details.
First off someone pointed to me docs recently which were previously shown on your blog as 4-18.pdf Page 10 pf 23 Crime Scene Worksheet – Evidence which appears to be a table very similar to what I remember seeing in the past. It does list items not shown and it is completely covered for viewing anything. Perhaps a non redacted one appeared in the past like many other docs or maybe it’s not the same thing anyway. My problem is I thought I remember seeing the keyword ‘Cage #’ in the heading in regards to storage reference before where this doesn’t appear to have that. What I remember from before it did have various things listed from Busch murder scene including ‘sketch’. So maybe it’s this same table but something tells me it’s different but similar. I’m still curious if this sketch is the original and disappeared at the same time as Hastings polygraph results disappeared which would be very telling if true. I’m still on the search for what doc I thought I saw on your blog long ago which might verify it. Curious about the dates and initials under ‘sketch’ if the doc can be found.
As far as Busch’s nephew stating that the sketch was there on his wall for long time before the suicide/murder. Well of course because it seems like everything with this family was to cover things up and not draw any more attention to this being (or whether a murder versus a suicide). The photo does show the sketch curled up on the sides at the top perhaps like it was taped on the wall in the middle with one tape. My experience as a teenager was that I never could get anything taped on the wall like that to stay up for very long so sounds like bullshit to me. Without any further witnesses that can verify that sketch being up for very long is completely worthless. Can anyone imagine a sketch like that on a wall and no one ever asked any questions about it? Nephews, cousins, anyone that saw it.
So the sketch is not considered OCCK related? Bulls__t! What a f’ed up mess we have here! You better believe it that it’s Mark down to his clothing in that sketch. Who are we trying to kid? Ironic that that sketch left at Busch room by an unknown artist is better than the sketch of Mark used by the police to try find him! Find the artist to that sketch and we may find some OCCK answers.
As far as the bloody ropes. You and I have disagreed immensely on this in the past. I still don’t understand the significance of this or any connection to OCCK. Those ropes may not be bloody to begin with and further none of the OCCK victims had wounds that represent that much blood drawn like that. I’m no detective but I suspect someone made a big deal out of nothing on those ropes but I guess we are all entitled to our opinions until some type of proof comes along.
Thanks for your digging into this and keeping the conversation alive.
Correction – Base on photo. Sketch is curled on the sides from the bottom on the wall. Still doesn’t look like it’s been up for a long time but hard to say for certain.
Also the 4-18.pdf Page 10 of 23 doc I’m referring to above is reference page BLK02021.
Cathy;
I had someone send me a high resolution scan of that sketch a long time ago from the FOIA stack they got from you. This was done because it has higher resolution than what is shown on the internet at the time and provides more detail and I was curious. One thing that it did point out was that those supposedly initials (JH) that Helen had posted about and shown in her videos is NOT really present. In other words once more resolution is seen those initials go away as it’s just an illusion. However there is what appears to be smudged hand writing at the very top of the page which I could never make out what it says. It looks almost like the ghost images/writing that comes across sometimes from the old copy machines. Take a look at your original copy (BLK 00480?) and see if what appears to be smudged hand writing at the top of the page primarily on the upper left where there’s darker shading. I recently took another look at this to see if there are any apparent smudge marks from artist fingers and nothing seems to stick out although it’s hard to tell.
Further examination with photoshop analysis and playing with filtering schemes, the smudged writing appears to be just noise. The artist that did the sketch used a lot of what they call ‘cross hatching’ or some term like that which is just a bunch of crossed lines to make a texture type shade which puts on the image of written text at times.
One last question on this if we ever knew if the sketch that was actually left in Busch room was a original sketch to begin with or a copy itself that was on the wall? With the lack of detective work perhaps we will never know.
Thinking about it now, it’s too bad GG which was evidently running the show with his hand waving to help JH get through their interview with him should have taken a more investigative approach. Instead they should have had a copy of the sketch with him and ask him if he knows anything about it because the original is in the crime labs being examined right now with interesting results and see how he would react But I guess it took the actual polygraph test for him to spill his guts on some matters. Too bad no one from Michigan was around there to witness it!!!!!
That is an excellent question, Inquisitor–was the drawing in Busch’s room the original sketch? I am still document digging and found some interesting information (every time I look at this stuff something else stands out).
I was alternating between laughing and screaming while reading GG’s interview skills in one of the transcripts of an interview with one of Busch’s nephews. Still hunting for the other interview because both are important to consider. I did run across GG’s case notes about the GA polygraph of Hastings, where he relays polygrapher Steve Duncan’s admonishment to Hastings that in Georgia we do polygraphs a little differently than in Michigan. That has to be one huge understatement, given some of the shit pulled by polygraphers in MI.
Anyone that has watched a few episodes of the old Dragnet show would have better interview skills than GG. I still think there is something very suspicious about GG and his motives which are very questionable all along on top of these old interviews. Put in the taking the dedicated Cory off the task force with no explanation and all traces of Hastings polygraph went mysteriously missing should had raised some questions to integrity and open the doors to an investigation from the inside.