NMU, MSP Cold Case Seminar expands after increase in state funding
— Read on www.secondwavemedia.com/upword/devnews/nmucoldcase.aspx
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The Oakland County Child Killer
What the Hell is the Deal with the Oakland County Child Killer Investigation?
NMU, MSP Cold Case Seminar expands after increase in state funding
— Read on www.secondwavemedia.com/upword/devnews/nmucoldcase.aspx
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Will the MSP want the OCCK case solved ?
No they will not. Sad 😔
No, because they would have to explain how GG completely buried the polygraph results from Georgia! (Results, conclusions & data from the tests) No one from MSP wants to be responsible for that!
There’s a lot none of them want to go near and that’s why this case is in purgatory. It’s like the crimes never happened and these four kids never existed.
Maybe the state needs to step in and require them to investigate OCCK and show some results for them to get any funding?
Otherwise they are just throwing money away! Pathetic!
My interpretation of the article is that this added effort/money will only be used towards Upper Peninsula cold cases. “The Upper Peninsula has had a number of cases that remain unsolved”
Apparently there are too many unsolved cold cases in the UP. Even though it contains only 3% of Michigan’s population. Maybe they need help to keep MSP’s closure rate above the 62% goal.
The MSP 2024-25 Budget for Cold Case Investigations budget is $1,000,000 in the General Fund-General Purpose (GF-GP). Breakdown is as follows:
1) $400,000 GF/GP to distribute evenly to the cold case course programs at Western Michigan University and Northern Michigan University for programmatic and operational expenses. The programs are to provide workforce development training related to criminal investigation tactics, forensic science and law, and review of cold homicide and missing person cases.
2) $400,000 GF/GP for Michigan State Police’s Special Investigation Division, in part to support local cold case murder investigations.
3)$200,000 GF/GP for the Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division.
Based on how the money is being used, I can still see MSP with 2 hands around the throat of any cold case progress or investigation. With the added benefit of any unused revenue can revert to the General Fund where it can be used elsewhere. Like awards for meritorious service, or maybe extra doughnuts.
The definition of the General Fund-General Purpose (GF-GP) is Revenues that are collected in the main State operating fund and are not dedicated to a specific purpose by statute. Unrestricted general fund revenue available to fund any activity accounted for in the General Fund; unused GF/GP revenue lapses to the General Fund at the end of a fiscal year.
Thank you, as always, G-Man. You are so right about the MSP’s strangle hold on the OCCK case. The case should be with a dedicated cold case unit. Instead, it is with the Second District Special Investigations Division, Detective Unit, in Detroit. You can imagine how much is subsumed in “special investigations” and how many of these cases are new, active and ongoing. https://www.michigan.gov/msp/divisions/specialinvestigation. The OCCK case is apparently a “special” cold case. So special that it falls to the bottom of the list in this division, when it should be at the very top of an actual cold case division’s list.
Ostensibly, that’s what Garry Gray and Dave Robertson were tasked with when they had this case from about 2006 until each of them retired. Over a decade of babysitting the files. A retirement plan for Det. Gray and a babysitting/oversight position for Robertson (son of the original failed task force commander–an appearance of impropriety at a minimum). They had nothing to show for time spent on the case and it was handed off to Denise somebody and then another detective. Eventually the OCCK case was passed on to Sean Street, then Eric Young, then James Plumber. All too busy to even look at the OCCK case, let alone devote any time to understanding where the case is or what should be done to close it out.
It’s funny. These last couple of hand-offs have all been accompanied with “he’s a good guy.” I’m sure they are. But they have no business being assigned to this case. Anyone who has worked a demanding, public sector job knows there aren’t enough hours in the day and that many phone calls will not be returned and only the hottest fires will be put out. It’s running from pillar to post hole, 50 weeks a year. The OCCK case should be in the hands of a cold case unit that works directly with universities and colleges and knows the ins and outs of the state lab. They must digitize the entire case file and, despite grant money and tax payer dollars and promises, this has never occurred. Genetic genealogy results will be hard, if not impossible, to evaluate with the mayhem filing system/nonsystem they have used/gotten away with.
A reader emailed me years ago and pointed out that in the D.B. Cooper case and the Zodiac case, the relevant law enforcement agencies have publicly disclosed essentially everything they possibly can under the notion that there is nothing left to lose at this point. Law enforcement in the OCCK case doggedly clings to the open case excuse and will give up nothing. Why won’t they release a copy of the “Allen” letter? Why didn’t they back in the day FFS? They are sitting on one piece of apparently tenable evidence that relates to just one of the four homicides. The longer they sit on it, the longer they can cling to their tired “open case” excuse for never answering to the public or, god forbid, the families of these four kids. I do have to hand it to them all–wait long enough and family members die and the public loses interest/doesn’t care. The strategy of self-servants, not public servants.
Money. It’s always about money. Of course digitizing the massive files in this case is expensive. So why not have the programs you are already paying for pick up the job? I would trust any college student or masters candidate to deal with those files before I would trust anyone in law enforcement. You had your chance. You already ditched things like the polygraph results from John Hastings tests in Georgia.
Speaking of money, do you ever wonder where that grant money went back in the day? That million dollars in 1977 money? When did they get the grant money? Did they use it to back pay cities for overtime for their wheel-spinning police? How did they use that money and why was there never an accounting or an explanation? Was there grant money left after they shut things down in December 1978? Something about it feels very off. Like everything in this case.
Fast forward to today: 1. Digitize the case files. 2. Get your shit together on the evidence and genetic genealogy. 3. Interview survivors of the Michigan pedophile rings who have come forward (if they are still willing to talk to you). 4. Report to the public. That’s the only way to move this case off your desk. Or the next guy’s, or the next guy’s, or the next guy’s, or the next guy’s.
Well said Cathy. I’d like to get my hands on the files and do the work that needed to be done nearly 50 years ago!
G-man quote – ” Apparently there are too many unsolved cold cases in the UP. Even though it contains only 3% of Michigan’s population. ”
Could it be as simple as the UP cases are not as much in the spot light so there’s less pressures to even solve them? Less media news pressures as well since little population. More at ease I guess you could say. Most certainly if the OCCK was investigated currently the public would want answers rather then just bury the case along with the victims.
I thought the same thing, assuming this money is going towards UP cold cases, and I was just guessing that the closure rate was maybe too low.
Now that I listen to the just posted CBS story, the closure rate is only at 54%, and the goal is 62%. I agree that perhaps many UP cases are less complex and the closure rate can increase. But how many open cases can there be up there? I now have to wonder where all of these thousands of open cases are located by county in Michigan. And how many are from the 1970’s and associated with persons of interest in the OCCK case.
Also I agree, as you indicate, the UP cases would be out of the larger spotlight.
Just off the top of my head, here are unsolved murders during the relevant time period in Oakland County, MI: 1. Mark Stebbins (age 12, abducted 2/15/77 and found murdered 2/19/77). 2. Jane Louise Allen (age 13, abducted 8/8/76, found murdered 8/11/76). 3. Jill Robinson (age 12, abducted 12/22/76, found murdered 12/26/76). 4. Kristine Mihelich (age 10, abducted 1/2/77, found murdered 1/21/77). Tim King (age 11, abducted 3/16/77, found murdered 3/22/77). 5. Carson McDowell (age 43, GM executive, found murdered (torture murder) 8/4/77). 6. John McKinney (age 50, found murdered (beaten and shot) in his Birmingham art gallery 9/20/77). 7. Gail Webster (age 48, found murdered (bludgeoned; knew suspect in OCCK case) in Troy 10/28/78).
This string of unsolved homicides was followed by the alleged suicides of Berkley police officer Chris Flynn on 11/14/78, and Chris Busch (body discovered on 11/20/78).
On top of the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa from an Oakland County restaurant on 7/30/75, that is quite the list of horrifying open cases during just part of Snake Oil Salesman L. Brook’s Patterson’s reign (1972-1988) as Oakland County (Nothing Bad Happens North of 8 Mile!) Prosecutor.
This is quite a resume under LBP. It certainly did not interfere with his drinking.
The Murder Accountability link is a great link, thanks. My eyes are spinning from digging into the raw data. In my limited review, based on filtering this detailed data, I have found the following:
1) In the 58 years (1965-2022) of the data, the 15 Counties in the UP have owned 337 homicides with 157 being cleared (46.59%). MSP has been involved in 126 of these cases and cleared 50 (39.68%).
2) By comparison, Oakland County has owned 231 homicides and cleared 142 (61.47%). MSP has been involved in 30 of these cases and cleared 5 (16.67%). Macomb County owned 141 homicides and cleared 64 (45.39%). MSP has been involved 19 of these cases and solved 4 (21.05%).
Looking at specific agencies for the OCCK years:
3) Just looking at the years 1976-1978, Birmingham Police owned 1 murder with zero cleared in 1976, same in 1977, and 7 murders in 1978 with 1 cleared. I’m assuming the 1977 uncleared case is McKinney, but 7 murders in 1978? Tim’s case must be classified elsewhere like Oakland County. But 7 homicides in 1978?
4) Just looking at the years 1976-1978, Bloomfield Township Police owned 1 murder with 0 cleared in 1976, 1977 and 1978. I’m assuming that Busch was listed as a suicide.
5) Just looking at the years 1976-1978, Berkley Police owned 1 murder in 1976 with zero cleared. No data for the other 2 years. Kristine’s information must be classified elsewhere, like Oakland County.
6) Just looking at the years 1976-1978, Ferndale Police owned 3 murders in 1976 with 3 cleared, 1 murder in 1977 with zero cleared, and none in 1978. Mark must also be classified elsewhere like Oakland County.
7) In 1978, Troy Police owned 3 murders with 1 cleared. I’m assuming one of the 2 unsolved must be the Gail Webster case.
8) Just looking at the years 1975-1978, Oakland County’s (Agency = Oakland and not State Police: Oakland County) local agency owned 8 murders in 1975 and cleared 4, owned 4 murders in 1976 with 7 cleared, 3 murders in 1977 with 2 cleared, and 4 murders in 1978 with 3 cleared. Oakland County has no case with MSP involvement before 1979, and apparently cleared 3 older cold cases in 1976.
Always some creative statistics or omissions whenever the years 1976 and 1977 are involved. Nothing is straight forward during those years. But as Mark Twain once said, “There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
It’s just disgusting that these murderers have gone free in the name of keeping Oakland County crime free.
They just do not want this case solved. Period.
https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/michigan-state-funding-aims-to-tackle-unsolved-homicide-cases/
Nice find. It provides additional information I was seeking. MSP closure rate is only at 54%, and the goal is 62%. Michigan has the 6th most open cold cases in the country, but no exact number was given. Only mentioned there are thousands of open cold cases.
Still, the $1 Million budget dedicated to cold cases seems to be too small an amount in the $953 Million MSP Budget in my opinion.
From the Murder Accountability Project website: “”The Murder Accountability Project firmly believes declining homicide clearance rates are the result of inadequate allocation of resources — detectives, forensic technicians, crime laboratory capacity, and adequate training of personnel,'” said MAP Chairman Thomas Hargrove. ‘This represents a failure of political will by local leaders.'” https://www.murderdata.org/.
G-Man Quote “Michigan has the 6th most open cold cases in the country”
To beat a dead horse all the more.
For MSP to allow some of it’s members to completely throw away OCCK evidence like polygraph testing from Georgia. And additionally throw cops off the investigation that were dedicated and loyal to getting some answers…let’s just say for an organization such as this to not and never be held accountable for such matters. Michigan should be number #1 on unsolved cold cases and probably is someway but the numbers have been juggled to be in 6th place. Still #1 on pathetic considering all factors! OCCK alone has a weight of at least a factor of a 100 over any of the other cases in Michigan and how much it impacted people.
I also believe the numbers were manipulated. Therefore the Mark Twain comment; “There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
We have seeing evidence being given away, thrown out, ignored, and lied about in other cases as well, and in other Michigan counties. Police agencies, county executives, coroners, prosecutors, MSP and FBI are all included. I’m sure the DNA results may have been manipulated as well. We have already seen items not being tested for DNA because officials do not believe it will yield results.
“We have already seen items not being tested for DNA because officials do not believe it will yield results.”
I believe in the OCCK case it’s more likely it will reveal things they don’t want to be known as some of it will be quite embarrassing. If the Georgia polygraph evidence/results were buried which all signs show it was just imagine what else was covered up. The news media should be pounding on MSP doors demanding answers to the Georgia polygraph or at least cover the exact wording in the news that were left in the FOIA docs word for word over the matter. Let the public decide what it really means.
The Michigan news media has always treated the OCCK case with a D+ effort at best. They were given information on a silver platter. But never any fucking follow up. Never any hard questions. But it’s not like Brooks Patterson, Jessica Cooper, Paul Walton or anyone at the Michigan State Police would answer a hard question or give a straight answer in this case. The deceit/criminality in the treatment of the Georgia polygraphs of John Hastings and my related FOIA request are but two examples.
The current prosecutor has shown me some small mercies which may or may not lead to any form of truth or justice for my brother. I am not going to discuss any of that at this time.
I believe we are owed the truth and to have our questions answered when it comes to the evidence in this case and DNA testing. Reading between the lines, it seems a decision has been made (perhaps in collaboration with a third-party lab or two) that but for the partial mtDNA sequences from degraded hair evidence and the Y-str sample in Kristine’s case, developed years after it should have been, the rest of the evidence has been so mishandled and so poorly stored, that it is worthless. This they will never admit or account for. I believe we are owed an explanation of the status of the evidence. What they have to work with is a very long shot, requires genetic genealogy evaluation, and someone who doesn’t suck to get up-to-speed to interview anyone still living who bubbles to the surface. In the indefensible absence of digitized records, this could take another decade.
A simple read of the FOIA documents shows what Charlotte Day at the State Lab and the brain trust at the “task force” did with the evidence in this case. They took Mark, Jill and Kristine’s clothing to some head shrinker in the middle of Michigan to ask for his impressions about the killer. In the transcript of the recorded visit, the doctor asks if he should be touching this evidence. Go right ahead, says Day–we’ve gotten everything we can from it. He opines that if this person is not caught soon, it will happen again. And it did. Weeks later my brother was abducted. So glad you fucked up the evidence.
Other FOIA documents describe how a psychic held the kids’ clothing, including my brother’s red hockey jacket, as police took him to the abduction and body dump sites.
As outrageous as these incidents are, even decades before DNA testing was a reality, consider the following. A Southfield PD detective got permission from L. Brooks Patterson to do the initial inspection of Mark Stebbins’ body because ME Robert Sillery was an incompetent drunk. A self-trained detective removed Mark’s clothing and collected evidence. The records from the ME’s examination in Mark’s case have the word SEMEN written on it, as well as “violent sexual assault.” But there is apparently no sample in evidence. In Kristine’s case, Patterson became the face of the investigation, informing the public that he would be bringing in some voodoo fingerprint expert from Canada. I don’t know if that was before or after Robert Sillery’s contradictory statements about discovering semen on various autopsy swabs.
Next we have the machinations of Berkley PD Detective Ray Anger as he made contradictory statements to the press in 1999 about the evidence as he and his buddy Patterson prepared to fly to Recluse, Wyoming, to dig up David Norberg to get his DNA.
Because this evidence was so mishandled (idiots) and because the corrupt fuck LBP interjected himself into this case, the chain of custody is completely suspect. It would be amazing if this evidence was subjected to one last round of advanced DNA testing by a sophisticated third-party lab. The DNA from all the morons who touched the evidence without gloves could be easily excluded. Due to poor storage procedures at the MSP and the state lab, this may just be wishful thinking. All this in the biggest manhunt in the entire nation at that time and in a serial murder case of children. If journalists got a D+, these clowns get an F.
With this case, any close examination will be quite embarrassing. Someone has to rise above it, rather than perpetuate these agencies’ failures and corruption. Until they do, I will not be silent.
I agree in the OCCK case. No doubt new testing will probably yield new results, and law enforcement will be embarrassed. Easier to just not test it. You said the 2 key words, cover up. Any new discoveries would force law enforcement to go back over their cover story of the past few decades, and see what else needs to be manipulated in their cover story as well.
My comment about items not being tested is just another tactic used by law enforcement to prevent any further truth from being exposed. Troy police did it when attempting to re-visit the Gail Webster murder recently. They controlled what items were being tested. Perhaps I should have mentioned that. It is still unclear if this case has any association with the OCCK case.
You are also correct about the news media. They are partners in the cover up, and probably do not know it. Easy to control them. Report anything, and you will never get another news story from us, or our colleagues. Nobody will cooperate with you. That means no awards, no book deals, no fame, glory or TV time. And most importantly, no lucrative opportunities for advancement.
I have relationships with a few major news outlets.
This needs to be the squeaky wheel
The conclusions written from that polygraph from Georgia shown partially in the FOIA papers (Much of it has been removed before released) is a squeaky alright. Very squeaky and very loud but still unheard by most. What was left to read has been crying for attention for many years now! Most people outside of the readers here are not even aware of it. Should be pasted on the power poles around MSP offices. Make a damn billboard of it!
Well said and great idea!
I do have the Billboards.
It is a great idea. But I am imagining a billboard similar to what was used in this Forensic Files case in Florida (see link below). This billboard reached many people, and was used to identify a killer based on his handwriting. Other signs posted on power poles would work well also. Specifically within the areas where the children were taken and found. Reminds the local residents of what occurred in their neighborhood, and gets them talking.
Excellent idea, anonymous commenter!
https://forensictales.com/the-rogers-family-murders/
I also like the idea of the moving billboard that Cathy already posted about, and is currently being used in Michigan.
https://catherinebroad.blog/2024/07/02/just-short-of-unbelievable-unless-you-live-in-michigan/
The moving billboard works great in the JoAnn Matouk Romain case because Bill Matouk, Tim Matouk, Pepsi driver-turned pastor Ed Milam and retired GPF Police Chief Dan Jensen, as well as other officers/detectives who were involved, are still alive. Presumably the city councils of Grosse Pointe Farms and Grosse Pointe Woods take an interest in how their city’s police departments are run and their tax dollars are spent. Presumably the city of Grosse Pointe Woods has an interest (even if the PD does not) in any possible illegal activity taking place at Woods Wholesale Wines. The family knew something was wrong with the investigation the minute they learned of JoAnn’s “missing” status. They hired a private investigator; they filled a federal lawsuit. Despite dismissing the lawsuit in 2018, the judge’s opinion stated that there still are “disputed facts” in Romain’s death that are “very disturbing.” Someone could come forward that might make a difference.
The moving billboard is a call to action in 14-year-old case that is locked up due to the actions of two police departments and perhaps other machinations. Police chiefs answer to their mayor and city council. There are a number of “very disturbing” issues in this case and the cities involved should be pressed for oversight. The moving billboard can achieve pressure on living people with knowledge and on these two communities in an effort to demand answers and make sure the rot is culled. It also may move someone with a conscience to come forward who knows the truth about JoAnn’s murder.
Contrast with the OCCK case. The name Christopher Busch was known to the Oakland County Prosecutor, the Michigan State Police and a few local detectives beginning in January 1977. That name would not be known to family or the public until 30 years after the fact. The OCCK case is a COVER UP CASE, with very few participants (in either the crimes or the coverup) still alive. People came forward with information in the wake of books and media coverage after Busch’s name was made public (no thanks to law enforcement), but they were discounted or their calls were never returned. The people with a conscience came forward (although I don’t doubt a family member of an as yet unidentified participant would keep this information to themselves). They were dismissed. The people who have information about suspect(s) who have not come forward in 47 years are not the kind of people who would ever do the right thing in any circumstance.
Do you think a billboard of any kind would:
1. Get Richard Thompson to tell the truth about the part he played in the Busch “investigation”?
2. Get Larry Wasser and Chet Romatowski to tell the truth about how Chris Busch ended up dead in November 1978?
3. Get Don Studt to tell the truth about how he was called off of the 1992 investigation into suspect John Hastings, a contemporary and neighbor of Chris Busch?
4. Get any of the living members of the Birmingham PD investigation into my brother’s death to tell the truth about what they were told about suspect Chris Busch via his legal counsel Jane Burgess and/or the OCP?
5. Get Garry Gray to tell the truth about why he did not tell Cory Williams about suspect John Hastings’ Georgia polygraphs and the impressions of the polygrapher?
6. Get the MSP to find the missing files relating to #5?
7. Get the state lab to tell the public about the status of the evidence in the four kids’ cases? Explain why a third-party lab cannot/will not participate if that is the case?
8. Get the MSP to digitize the OCCK case files (to at least pretend they are serious about “bringing the families closure”)?
9. Get Sheriff Mike Bouchard to tell the truth about why his office was used to stash OCCK files at the request of Jessica Cooper? Get him to tell the truth about why they claim to have virtually no files in the OCCK case or whether his office is withholding evidence in the case from the MSP?
10. Get anyone to tell the truth about the files that were being shredded by Jessica Cooper’s office in the days after Karen McDonald was elected in November 2020 and whether OCCK files were included in the shred?
The local PDs gladly handed over their case files to the MSP. The MSP presumably answers to the governor, but as far as I can tell, they answer to no one. I’m not seeing them fretting much over a tough billboard. The rest of the public servant/criminals who are still alive and collecting a pension would never do the right thing in the OCCK case. Never.
That’s a quite a few billboards, Cathy. I would like to see another documentary that covers all of them. Why the Georgia polygraph is such an item for me is just the nature of the wording that was left in the FOIA papers which is so very revealing and shocking and seems to be such a mystery behind it. For the MSP to never do any follow up to it speaks volumes and the very fact that any trace of it has been buried by someone is extra suspicious of cover up. In addition to that was what you covered (#5) to never reveal the truth to Mr. Cory Williams over the matter is very disturbing. For this case never to be completely solved, the conclusions to that polygraph are screaming for attention even now and could be something substantial to solving the case or at the very least filling in some gaps. The public should be completely aware of it rather than just a few. That was why a billboard idea which would have quotes taken right out of the FOIA paper and where words were taken out make it black rather than white so it’s extra pronounce that words were taken out.
Last time I checked, John Hastings, GA polygrapher Steve Duncan and retired Det/Sgt Garry Gray are all still alive. Maybe the billboard on that topic could include their phone numbers. I agree–a solid documentarian could approach this better than law enforcement. Let’s not forget:
1. A tip was turned in on John Hastings early on in the investigation and again in 1992. He was near the same age and similarly underemployed as his Bloomfield Village neighbor, pedophile Chris Busch. He was credibly named as running in the same circles as Busch and Greene, with detail that should have been sufficiently believable to anyone who understands this case.
2. In 2009, at the request of the MSP, Georgia polygrapher Steve Duncan polygraphed Hastings. The results are described in file notes by Garry Gray:
“Duncan advised the undersigned that he and his supervisor who also witnessed the entire examination process, were so convinced that [Hastings] had involvement with these murders, that if he were to confess to him, his [Hastings’] involvement, they already had a plan in place where they would hold him for the officers in Michigan too obtain a warrant. He said they were that convinced.
Duncan advised that there was no question in his mind, whatsoever, that [Hastings] has some involvement with the murders of these children. He stated he didn’t know to what degree of involvement he may have, whether knowledge, did the murder or assisted, but he firmly believes he was involved. Duncan stated that in polygraph, you can’t just pull out one part, and hang your hat on it. Duncan did however state again, that there is no question in his mind that he is involved with these murders.”
Duncan also said there was no question that Hastings knew Chris Busch, something he repeatedly and vehemently denied to investigators.
3. In 2021 in response to my FOIA request, the MSP responded that they could not locate the material or DVDs supplied by Duncan.
4. There was no need for Georgia to hatch a plan to keep Hastings while Michigan obtained a warrant, as no one in Michigan had any intention of circling back to this living connection to Chris Busch. https://catherinebroad.blog/2021/04/28/john-hastings-2/.
No one in their right mind should ignore the words written above. Especially someone from law enforcement. MSP/ Mr. GG you are a disgrace!!!!!!!! If it’s nothing, try to convey what you know over this matter.
Agree
Since MSP has not had any comment on it and claim the great flood lost all data from it, maybe someone can ask the public to fill in the blanks for us. The billboard would sure get people thinking about it wondering WTF?