Today JoAnn Matouk Romain would have turned 70 years old. Instead, she has been dead for over 14 years. On January 12, 2020, JoAnn walked out of a prayer service at Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms and was never seen alive again. Her body was found on the Canadian side of the Detroit River, 30 miles from the church, on March 20, 2020. I posted about JoAnn’s case on January 12 of this year, after WDIV ran a story on the anniversary of her disappearance.
JoAnn was a devoted mother and a devout Catholic. She would not have killed herself. Some of the speculation about how she was walking out onto the shore of Lake St. Clair, then some 400 yards to the water’s edge, in her high-heeled boots to take a gander at the December night sky are beyond ridiculous.
There is a relatively new, ongoing, and important podcast about JoAnn’s death. It seems clear to me that her death was a murder and not a suicide.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-one-knows/id1723274491
It is also on Spotify.
As cited in my January post, WDIV (Karen Drew), has done a multi-part series on this case. See also https://gmg-wdiv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/video/news/2024/01/23/full-cold-case-investigation-the-disappearance-of-joann-matouk/?ref=/insider/?ref=/video/news/2024/03/05/local-4-news-at-noon—-march-5-2024/ . Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix) has an episode covering this case. It was covered extensively in a special report to the Grosse Pointe News in October 2020 (subscription required). An article in Men’sHealth had a piece the same month, entitled “Who is Tim Matouk From Unsolved Mysteries?” https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a34272268/tim-matouk-now-unsolved-mysteries/ .
The Crime Junkie Podcast covered the case in two episodes.
This is just a sickening case. As you learn in every source noted above, JoAnn’s cousin, Tim Matouk, has been implicated in her death. Matouk was a Harper Woods detective at the time JoAnn went missing, but soon moved to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office as an investigator. I believe he still works there, although perhaps no longer as an investigator.
This is extremely distressing to me on a number of levels. First, what happened to JoAnn and the way her case was investigated–outrageous. The way JoAnn’s kids–her only advocates–have been treated is reprehensible. Second, Tim Matouk works for Kym Worthy, whom I happen to have a lot of respect for. But this employment arrangement feels very incongruous to me. Third, this man has worked on my brother’s homicide case since he joined the WCPO. I’ve seen his name in the file reports and he met with one of my brothers and my dad on at least one occasion (prior to their meeting with the allegedly repentant AA step-follower, Vince Gunnels). None of this is reassuring, no matter how many people rush to the “he’s a great detective” chorus.
Fourth, I have firsthand experience with how law enforcement closes ranks and covers things up any time they feel necessary. Some detectives, troopers and agents can be manipulative thugs. People around them often look the other way, or do something they know they shouldn’t. You know, like donate evidence in an open case to charity. The history of law enforcement in Southeastern Michigan is littered with such corrupt people.
Jim Cox from Berkley PD. ATF agent Robert Van Hengel. And dirty prosecutors, L. Brooks Patterson and Richard Thompson and their investigator Gary Hawkins. And dirty state police polygraphers like Chet Romatowski. That’s just a short list, off the top of my head. So nothing would shock me about Tim Matouk’s involvement in JoAnn’s case or any attempts by him at intimidation.
A word about defamation. Truth is an absolute defense to a defamation (libel (written) or slander (spoken)). Anyone considering filing a defamation lawsuit as a threat or nuisance has to realize that such a suit can bring bad press and a much bigger spotlight to the situation. Furthermore, it opens the door on things like previously sealed deposition material and other discovery.
Police have characterized the entire Matouk Romain family as “crazy.” This is their favorite form of gaslighting. Jessica Cooper loved to refer to my dad as “senile.” That might work with members of the public who blindly trust law enforcement, but if you listen to No One Knows, you will realize that what happened to this family could happen to yours. This I know all too well, as do other families in Southeastern Michigan. It is a terrible club to belong to.
Nothing adds up in this case and it is doubly offensive that the Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Woods police departments expected JoAnn’s family to eat the shit they were shoveling. Residents of these communities should be haranguing those police departments any chance they get. The PDs’ actions are indefensible in this case.
Manipulative thugs, their coconspirators and enablers do not expect to run into people like JoAnn Matouk Romain’s daughters. At a certain point, their threats and intimidation mean nothing anymore after you strip a family of any expectation of fair play, transparency or accountability in the wake of a murder. Your old tricks and playbook just won’t work here. The gloves have to come off.
To paraphrase Shakespeare–truth will come to light and murder cannot be hid long–at the length, truth will out, though charges may well never come. I no longer believe that the truth will out in my brother’s homicide case, but it sure as hell feels like it will in JoAnn Matouk Romain’s case.
If you have information that could help in this case, reach out to the No One Knows Podcast. (Like the local PDs, the state police or the FBI would help?!)
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Unfortunately I wish we didn’t belong in this club😡
The dues are very onerous.
Exhibit A: https://www.freep.com/story/special/podcasts/where-secrets-go-to-die/2024/05/14/michigan-state-police-handling-of-cold-case-raises-questions-where-secrets-go-to-die-podcast-henagan/72757242007/–“Michigan State Police face suspicion for handling of cold case murder
Locals wonder: Was a trooper involved?”
And another look at a case I posted about–a DNA/genetic genealogy solve in a 48-year-old case and the importance of pushing for answers: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/05/14/can-dna-testing-crack-indiana-cold-case-slasher-part-4/73418679007/
Cathy, We have talked about this. I regret I never met your father and I am surprised we never bumped into each other. I am allowed to make inferences and your father was not senile.
I know nothing about this case but watched the UM episode last night. Back in the day, I did have contact with one of the family members. I would not for one second discount the associate of the brother’s theory. Suicide however is laughable and does nothing to enhance the rep of Detroit area LE. Sickening.
Yeah, and there is no way in hell a woman of any age in any season is walking 500 yards in heels to the Detroit River.
Or Lake St. Clair (the lake across from the church; I got that wrong).
Last summer or maybe it was the summer before, but someone had invested the time and money to fly all around I-75 and who knows where else, flying a banner calling out a certain couple of people who are showering in guilt. They flew over my house on several different occasions. I know someone who lives in their neighborhood and has quietly shared his thoughts with me.
I remember when a banner flew over Lake St. Clair a couple of years ago. One in particular read, “Tim & Bill Matouk, wait until the public finds out who you really are.”
Yes, no way in hell any woman of any age is walking in heel to the St. Clair River.
I’m still working on the podcasts. Did the two crime junkies last night. There was air in JoAnn’s lungs? She would have floated. I do not know what to think but am sure that poor woman was murdered and I feel for her kids. That was not a suicide. Then what about the next “suicide” in the fall? The guy with the bullet in his brain that also was determined to be a suicidal drowning. What’s going on in Detroit?
Probably the same thing that has always been going on in Detroit. Yikes.
See also; Petition: Justice for JoAnn Matouk Romain: https://www.change.org/p/department-of-justice-justice-for-joann-matouk-romain
Episode 16 of the podcast follows the warrant issued in the hit and run case in Grosse Pointe Woods involving a man who repeatedly rammed the moving billboard concerning this cold case.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-one-knows/id1723274491
More on that in a minute. What is most disturbing to me is that the podcaster describes an attempted breaking and entering at her home. In light of the hit and run, as well as what happened to a witness in JoAnn’s disappearance (hassled by police and, go figure, he winds up dead), this is very serious business. One can have Ring cameras on the front, sides and back of the house and a gun, but in reality these are false security. The attempt was a threat. It is galling that someone has enough power in those communities to think they can get away with such crimes.
A warrant did indeed issue for the arrest of the man involved in the hit and run assault:
Grosse Pointe Man Arraigned for Allegedly Ramming Billboard Box Truck, Case Referred to Macomb County
Mount Clemens, MI – A 36-year-old man was arraigned in connection with crashing into a billboard box truck multiple times.
It is alleged that on Sunday, June 30, 2024, William Michael-Louis Matouk II intentionally drove a Chevrolet Express van into a billboard box truck near Mack Ave. and Vernier Rd. in Grosse Pointe Woods. He allegedly backed up and struck the box truck two more times. Matouk then fled the scene in the van. The driver of the billboard box truck suffered non-life threatening injuries. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office identified a potential conflict of interest in this case. It was referred to the Macomb County Prosecutors’ Office to ensure fairness and impartiality.
William Michael-Louis Matouk II was charged with Malicious Destruction of Personal Property, a ten year felony, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, a four year felony, Lying to a Peace Officer, two year felony and Failure to Stop After Collision, a 90-day misdemeanor.
William Michael-Louis Matouk II was arraigned in Grosse Pointe Woods District Court where District Court Chief Judge Theodore Metry set a $50,000 personal bond. Upon release the defendant is to have no contact with any witnesses, must turn in his passport, and must seek permission before leaving the state of Michigan. No future court dates are scheduled at this time.
Matouk II’s defense attorney is John Dakmak, previously an assistant prosecutor with Wayne County and now specializing in “white collar” criminal defense. Dakmak spent the last two years at WCPO working almost exclusively on cold case homicide prosecutions. He represented former Michigan State University dean William Strampel, who was convicted of using his position as dean to try to solicit sexual favors from students, and other charges. https://www.michiganpublic.org/law/2019-08-07/former-msu-dean-to-serve-one-year-in-jail. Good choice of counsel, Junior.
My sister Diane was her hair beautician. She was devastated when this happened. It is believed that a relative was involved w some unsavory individuals, who wanted to send a message.
Episode 16 is short (18 Minutes), but the last 6 minutes are must listen. Intimidation is occurring to the victim, an attempted bribe ($100,000) to drop the case, and a break-in at the podcasters home. Things are escalating in front of everyone’s eyes, and will most likely escalate even more.
Interesting that after 74 days since the incident, Grosse Pointe Woods Police now must arrest the suspect who committed multiple felonies and a misdemeanor. They originally would not arrest him because of a conflict of interest.
And the next events are now back in Wayne County.
“A probable cause hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. Oct. 16 and a preliminary exam is scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 23 in 19th District Court before Chief Judge Sam Salamey.”
Shocking, but certainly not unprecedented, levels of corruption. Southeastern Michigan is so blatantly corrupt and filled with incestuous layers of law enforcement (family tradition, moving from agency to agency), prosecutors (move from county to state to federal offices) and even reporters who marry into the mix.
How is the case back in Wayne County?! Who the hell is the prosecutor on this case?!
National media needs to circle back to this case. New York Times, let’s go. Forget waiting for another g.d. documentary, after more people are hurt or worse in this case.
Southeastern Michigan. Screwing over victims, survivors and the public for at least 50 years and probably long before that.
These next events were stated in today’s Macomb Daily.
I am not an expert on court proceedings, but the arraignment occurred in Grosse Pointe Woods District Court. Now the next 2 events (probable cause hearing and preliminary exam) are at 19th District Court in Dearborn. Perhaps the reason is in the court case record.
The court clerk for all the prior events on this case was JMB (Julie Brown). Now the latest events at GPW District Court include JMB and RAM. RAM is Rachelle Ann Matouk, Tim Matouk’s wife.