After I posted yesterday about the DNA in OCCK case, I recalled comments from a reader a few years ago about the hair found in Sloan’s car and its similarity to the DNA sample of Ruth Stebbins. The writer posited that this finding could have been due to tampering with the evidence, a technical error, or a match to the offspring of Ruth Stebbins. This was one of many comments from the reader covering a variety of subjects and they were all insightful.
I turned off the comments section to my blog at the end of September. After reviewing some of the comments I have circled back to, as well as receiving work compiled by other writers since September (who indicate they have no problem with me sharing the content, but requesting input from other readers), I am reactivating the comments function.
As I thought about the earlier comments on the hair found in Sloan’s car and the work recently compiled by another reader, the biggest thing that stands out to me is that MSP D/Sgt. Powell specifically said she noticed the similarity to Ruth Stebbin’s DNA and that she would “check with the lab on this.” There is no indication in the FOIA documents that this ever occurred even though “[i]f it were in fact Mark Stebbins’ hair, this would change everything as far as the direction of this investigation.”
I have no expertise in this area and of course we are limited to information contained in the FOIA documents, because questions are never answered by law enforcement in this case. It appears the “issue” was never clarified by the lab, which is yet another giant red flag in this case.
The evidence was tested at points along the way but the results were apparently never properly evaluated. It was apparently never organized and prepared so it could be addressed by whomever got handed the file (in the never-ending file hand-off that occurs with the OCCK case because it has not been assigned to a dedicated cold case team). Never synthesized so that the head of the state lab could accurately speak with a third-party lab about possible collaboration, instead of starting from square one ALMOST 50 YEARS LATER. This is a project that therefore goes to the bottom of the pile every time just due to the sheer weight of poor practice.
I had to work through the below summary myself to lay out the ridiculousness of a contention that nothing more can be done in the OCCK case. I’m no expert, not by a long-shot, but this might give some perspective:
Nuclear DNA is found in the cell nucleus. It is derived from both parents and while there is a high degree of similarity between siblings and even within families, the unique combination of inherited genes ensures that no two individuals have the exact same nuclear DNA profile. Nuclear DNA evidence was first introduced in a criminal court case in England in 1986. There is apparently no nuclear DNA evidence in the OCCK case.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is found in the mitochondria in the cell cytoplasm surrounding the nucleus. It is passed on from mother to child. Females pass it to the next generation; males cannot. Scientists discovered that mtDNA can be found in hair, teeth and bones, even when the sample is decayed or degraded. A hair with the root attached could be evaluated for nuclear DNA (the root) and mtDNA (inside the hair shaft). There is degraded hair evidence in the OCCK case.
Mitochondrial DNA was used in a criminal case to help convict a man of the rape and murder of a 4-year-old girl in the 1996 case State of Tennessee v. Ware. The mtDNA in hairs found at the crime scene was matched to a saliva sample from Ware. At some point after the Ware conviction, investigators obtained blood samples from the mothers of the OCCK victims. I remember this because my mom told me about it, told me not to worry about it and that nothing would probably come of it.
In 2019, Dr. Ed Green, a a paleogeneticist at the University of California Santa Cruz, created a revolutionary technique to extract nuclear DNA from hair that has long fallen from someone’s head (no root).
That same year Astrea Forensics was founded “to apply ancient DNA techniques and direct genome sequencing to difficult-to-solve forensic casework and the identification of human remains. Astrea’s proprietary methods make it possible to recover genetic profiles from rootless hair and other highly degraded samples that otherwise fail traditional forensic DNA testing. The Astrea® technology will help empower law enforcement and genetic genealogy investigators in their mission to solve cold cases, and determine the identify of unknown individuals, whether days or decades old.”
https://www.astreaforensics.com/who-we-are
Law enforcement in the OCCK is well aware of Astrea Forensics, and their state-of-the-art technology that can focus on degraded samples “so that every possible molecule is recovered. Our technologies are particularly adept for capturing ultrashort DNA fragments; these are fragments lost to traditional methods but are the most common DNA type in rootless hair and other degraded samples.” This technology has been available since 2019.
Y-STRs are short random repeats found on the Y chromosome which is only found in males. The number of repeats at each Y-STR location varies among individuals, allowing for genetic comparisons. There is a partial Y-STR sample that was developed from the vaginal swab from Kristine’s autopsy.
Y-STR evidence was first used in a court case in 1990 in Germany. Y-STR analysis can be used to assist in identifying skeletal remains; to isolate male DNA from that of the victim in sexual assault cases; or in cases where male DNA may be present in small amounts (cases involving blood mixtures, fingernail clippings from victims, or ligatures from strangulation).
The hair evidence in this case (what’s left of it–one hair was used up/extinguished during testing according to FOIA documents) could already have been evaluated by Astrea for possible development of nuclear DNA. The Y-STR sample is a partial sample and the FOIA documents indicate that the state was not willing to pay for additional DNA extraction methods by a third-party lab that could improve typing success beyond a million men with the possible last name of Hunt.
The state and FBI labs do not have these testing capabilities. We are going on years of inaction here. I cannot come up with any legitimate reason to excuse or explain their indolence.
If the state is maintaining they will only consider the hair evidence and the Y-STR and that any further testing of the other evidence in the four homicides will not be considered and if they will not arrange for this more advanced testing by a third party lab or labs, they are saying they are done investigating these crimes. Any pretense of an “active” investigation is therefore laughable and has been for years at this point. The entirety of the files is therefore subject to disclosure under FOIA. (What hasn’t been shredded, that is.)
In 2012 law enforcement was selling us the narrative that this “had to be” a DNA solve. Now, they won’t check the boxes, apparently taking the position that “nothing will come of it,” which is something my mom intuited when they came calling for her blood sample. Looking back I know she knew they were full of shit. It took all her energy to put one foot in front of the other; she wasn’t about to waste a minute thinking about these wheel-spinners.
**As before, comments are moderated and will not post immediately. I try to check the blog once every 24 hours, same with my Proton email, OCCKTruth@protonmail.com.
All comments and emails that make it past the spam filter are read, but not all comments will be posted. I can’t answer every email. Thanks for your understanding.
I have more to post from other readers and respectful comments will be appreciated.
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I was shocked 2 days ago to find (when researching newspapers within an hour of where my cousin Rudy died in 1973) articles on 2 sexual solicitations or assaults of minors, reported in the Corunna MI newspaper. I revisited the site today and found still another. May, Coffin, and Roberts are the last names. The 2 articles that were prominently featured the other day are now collected under “Articles” at the bottom of the page.
One week, three sexual predators.
https://www.argus-press.com/news/community/corunna/
– Sarah Swart
Since this Sgt Powell did not follow up originally on the Sloan car DNA, can it be followed up on now? I am not even saying for it to be retested, just for the information to be looked at and pivot the investigation if appropriate? Although I guess I assuming there is an investigation…
Powell is long gone. Followed by Sean Street, who stopped communicating with me when I forwarded the tip about Richard McNamee (Bloomfield Twp. PD officer who responded to Busch “suicide” scene), followed by Eric Young who would not agree to communicate with me because he had been told “the sister was difficult.” Therefore the arrangement became I would have to go through the prosecutor’s office, who would then play telephone tag with him. There is some new guy–same deal. Only he takes forever to return calls from the prosecutor’s office. In fairness, these are detectives with the Special Investigations Unit so they have probably 50 active cases. This is why I have been lobbying for them to move this case to a real cold case team. I’m sure the current detective doesn’t know a Ruth Stebbins from a Bobby Moore.
Your suggestion of water boarding Hastings sounds like a good idea. But before any of that, it would be nice just to know what really went down with the lost polygraph from Georgia to what caused them to write the conclusions that they did over a simple polygraph test. I’m assuming you’ve never received any information over this matter after all of these years? Considering so many responsible for burying all traces of the polygraph testing to giving out false information that he passed it in flying colors to authors that are diverting attention away from from him claiming ‘rabbit hole’ waste of time there appears to be many that should be water boarded or at the very least be giving a good spank.
I appealed the denial of my FOIA request for the Steve Duncan reports and the DVDs of Hastings’ polygraphs. I copied my appeal to AG Dana Nessel, AAG Danielle Hagaman-Clark, OCP Karen McDonald, and state Senators Gary Peters and Tom Barrett.
I had provided the MSP with a $271 deposit. They wanted $382 more, claiming that they would have to review over 1,100 pages (18 hours they told me) of documents to identify any responsive records. To find one fucking report. Aside from this being complete bullshit, they denied my request because:
“To the best of the department’s knowledge, information and belief, under the information provided by you [which was incredibly specific and supported with Garry Gray’s own file reports], the public records do not exist within the department.” Additional comments: “The Michigan State Police cannot locate copies of the DVD or the separate reports prepared by Duncan.”
My appeal challenged the fees and the preposterous position that records from 2009 (not the late 1970s) could not be located. My appeal was denied, however, because “Records that are not in our possession cannot be produced.”
If I was made of money, I could have then filed a civil action against the MSP under FOIA laws. It would have gone something like this: “Your honor, my client diligently searched the records in response to this request and we could not locate any responsive material. We cannot produce what we do not possess.”
Fantasize for a minute that there was such a lawsuit, that it made it past summary judgment and that Garry Gray was called to the stand to explain what he did with the reports from Georgia polygrapher Steven D. Duncan, whether he viewed the DVD of Hastings’ polygraphs and where he filed these materials. You know what the answer would be: I do not recall.
We do know that Detective Cory Williams was never told about the information Duncan provided. The window to circle back and crack Hastings was missed.
On November 5, 2021, I sent an email to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s office detailing my futile attempts to contact Steve Duncan (with emails and addresses), as well as the long saga of the missing report/DVD as well as the clear implications that John Hastings knew Chris Busch. I pointed out I believed Hastings had been credibly accused of running in the circles of pedophiles involved in creating CSAM and young victims. I offered to hire a private investigator to hunt Hastings down.
I received no response to this email. My offer to pony up for an investigator is no longer good. Maybe a journalist or a podcaster can go find him. And Steve Duncan.
I remind everyone that if you are outraged by what has taken place in this investigation, you should write the OCP and copy the MSP, FBI, and the OC Sheriff. Make THEM understand that it is not just pathetic family members of victims who are demanding justice. Make THEM read your email or letter, even if you have contacted them in the past. Let THEM know their actions and inaction is being viewed by society at large, not just on a blog or a Reddit thread.
And ANYONE can file a FOIA request. You don’t have to be a Michigan resident or somehow related to this case. You don’t have to explain why you are filing. You just have to be as specific as you can about the records you seek. You can do it online.
Make the MSP tell you it will take them 18 hours to locate one file or a document, even if you provide the date and parties involved. Let the OCS tell you they have not one piece of paper in this case. Let the FBI tell you they will not provide any information because this is an “ongoing investigation.” (Actually the most ridiculous assertion of them all.)
FOIA can be helpful if you are dealing with a decent agency. In the hands of an agency like the MSP, it is a worthless proposition.
So that was $271 dollars to get in a pissing match with Lori Hinkley of the MSP FOIA crew. BTW, I’m guessing we are over the $30K mark in trying to get answers in my brother’s case. Others have profited from this case; we are in the ditch and no farther ahead.
I agree with your reader that wrote to you stating the lost polygraph from Georgia is one of the biggest holes in the case. I still don’t understand why a reporter or an author or someone with ambition and authority tries to get to the bottom of this thing because the potential of solving the case is extremely high from the Hastings angle. Although I believe the reason why there so much cover up over the already cover up of Chris Busch is the implications this is going to have. Just the thought of Helen Dagner’s suspect being proven to be involved with these crimes is going to raise hell with many. I say “so be it”!
It’s ironic because with HD, so much would not have been uncovered. But mention her name, and LE’s hackles go up. I know we are all human, but way too much ego involved in this investigation. This is where AI would be good and DNA evidence – its not subjective.
Cathy, one thing I am confused about is who we can actually get info from. Doesn’t Oakland County just say the case is in the hands of the MSP? Has anyone talked to Kym Worthy again? I don’t know how it all works
I don’t believe Wayne County has been actively involved for years now. You know you aren’t going to get any answers, but the OCP is aware that the MSP is not doing anything. Let them all know if you are outraged. There is no protocol here. It is a black hole, same as always. Contact them all.
Here’s how it really works. When the FBI blew us off they said that the MSP and the OCS are the investigating agencies. That was news to me. The sheriff’s office responded to my FOIA request by saying they did not have any records whatsoever in the OCCK case and to “check with” the MSP. The MSP is the investigating agency. Tips go to them (and now, I guess to the OCS and their double-secret cold case team). The detective in charge at the MSP doesn’t have time to investigate any of the tips. So nothing happens. Who can pressure them? The charging entity–the prosecutor, who can say she wants to bring this circus to a close one way or the other, so report on where the DNA stands. But the prosecutor is busy with a huge caseload. So who pressures the prosecutor? Her constituents who want some kind of explanation for where this case stands and if more DNA testing will take place or if we are literally at the end of the road.
Until the details of what is known of this polygraph is given in a book or documentary, it will never get the attention it demands. I thought a reporter/author was going go after it then it just died. Perhaps steered away? Need the public knocking on MSP doors demanding answers. News coverage would sure help.
Where is the justice? wrote
“It’s ironic because with HD, so much would not have been uncovered. But mention her name, and LE’s hackles go up. I know we are all human, but way too much ego involved in this investigation. This is where AI would be good and DNA evidence – its not subjective.”
That would sure be the day when AI takes over investigation. This case is a prime example. Seems like no one can put some HD blinders on and look at something for what it really is. People’s personal opinions of HD still gets in the way of things. I thought by now we were beyond that point. Especially this polygraph issue itself which is totally independent of HD.
I AGAIN carefully set forth law enforcement’s ignoring of the 2009 Hastings polygraphs, which is an open, legitimate issue. DONE with Helen Dagner. I did not open the comments section again to resurrect discussion about HD. ENOUGH–both of you!! You chase away legitimate discussion about the polygraphs. I’m seriously getting pissed. Please exercise some damn discretion.
Cathy wrote
“We do know that Detective Cory Williams was never told about the information Duncan provided. The window to circle back and crack Hastings was missed.”
Is it possible that Cory was taken off the investigation by Garry about the same time that Garry got results from the polygraph from Duncan? That way Cory would never find out about it (until years later). Surely there is some things behind this cover up and it’s only natural to ask these questions. Did Garry inform Cory that he passed the polygraph in flying colors as reported my Marney for many years when asked about Hastings during Q&A?
When no author or reporter ever covers what is known about this polygraph it leaves it wide open. The Jackal author claims it’s a ‘rabbit hole’ waste of time. The public takes that in and never knows the seriousness of this polygraph has towards the case and the potential it may have in solving the case. The public needs to know and wake up to all of this.
Cathy I’m sure you’ve done everything you could possibly do and then some but someone needs to take the ball and run with this that is in a position to do something about it.
Background link regarding the 2009 polygraphs in Georgia of John Hastings: https://catherinebroad.blog/2021/04/28/john-hastings-2/
I am going to keep this as simple as I can. The observations of polygrapher Steve Duncan, detailed in the Supplemental Incident Report dated October 9, 2009 and prepared by D/Sgt. Garry Gray, from a phone call after the polygraphs were conducted is nothing short of chilling. “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 believed he was involved.” Duncan told Gray and D/Sgt. Dave Robertson (son of the original task force commander in 1977) that he thought Hastings “absolutely” knew Busch, something Hastings had denied in an interview a few months before with Gray and D/Sgt. Cory Williams.
Hastings did not confess to Duncan and his superior after the polygraphs, but said “some very strange statements.” Duncan and his superior, who witnessed the entire examination process, were so convinced that Hastings had involvement with the child murders that they had a plan in place to hold him so Michigan could obtain a warrant if he did in fact confess. “They were that convinced.”
Notably, the report ends a paragraph that simply states Duncan would be generating three separate reports (Stebbins, Robinson and Mihelic murders), all pre and post interview information, as well as copies of all DVDs involved. That’s it. No indication of what next steps would be, how to circle back to Hastings, whether to consider polygraphing him again. Note the use of “will be generating.” Maybe Gray or Robertson called Duncan back and told him not to bother. Which would explain the “missing” documentation and is why I also submitted a FOIA request to the Open Records Unit in Atlanta, Georgia. (No responsive records found there, as their policy provided for retention of only 7 years for a felony–which would have expired in 2016.)
Either way, it is beyond negligent for Gray and Robertson not to have followed up on Duncan’s information. It reeks of corruption and cover up. This failure must land squarely on the state police and not on any investigator, journalist or author. (More on that in my next comment). Furthermore, in any active cold case investigation, a responsible investigator circles back to suspects. Pays them a visit, even years later–anything to add, John, Arch, Ted, Vince? Still thinking about you and can’t find a way to really clear you in this case. Keep in touch. They probably keep their mouth shut or threaten to get an attorney, but they know someone is still thinking about their link to these crimes.
Now, let’s move on to the hard conversation and see if we can move forward. Every single nonfiction book written about the OCCK crimes has added to the knowledge base, the discussion and to keeping the case so many want buried in the public eye. I have no doubt that these books, given the subject matter and the heartbreak, were very difficult to write. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, Portraits in the Snow, The Kill Jar, The Snow Killings, Guarded by Jackals. Same goes for every podcast, documentary and YouTube video about these cases. Do I agree with every sentence, every approach in all of these works? No. For example, had I known that the producers/directors of Children of the Snow were going to fly one of Shelden’s victims to N. Fox Island and film his reaction, I would not have participated in that documentary. Flat out no. The first time I watched the documentary after it aired (traumatic enough), I had to fast forward through that part. I was enraged. But it turns out I don’t get a say in how someone approaches this case when they write or compile video. And neither do you. Undermining any of this work is counterproductive.
You are clearly upset over a single footnote in Guarded by Jackals, which seeks to explain to the reader the parameters of what the author was considering in writing this work. Helen Dagner was indeed a rabbit hole for purposes of this work, I’m sorry. The author does not purport to address, nor do they dismiss, the importance of that Supplemental Incident Report dated October 9, 2009 about Hastings’ polygraphs. This does not undermine the work. The book focuses on PUBLIC CORRUPTION and had it addressed every suspect, every idiotic move by Garry Gray and Dave Robertson many years after the initial corruption crime, it would have been 1,600 pages.
Most importantly, Guarded by Jackals details the very genesis of the public corruption that led directly to the way the Hastings investigation ended in 1992 (Hey, he passed a poly on the Tim King case! See ya later, John!) and to the failure of Gray and Robertson to follow up on that chilling information detailed in my prior comment. If you can’t see the link, you’ve missed the entire point of the book.
Do you honestly think L. Brooks Patterson was going to let anybody get very close to a neighbor of Chris Busch as a possible suspect in the OCCK case? Do you think anybody was going to take the information about Bloomfield Township cop Richard McNamee that came out after Marney Keenan’s book, seriously enough to investigate? He didn’t get his own chapter in any book either. The point of GBJ is that in January 1977, levers were moved that protected Chris Busch and his father H. Lee Busch. It is, in my own opinion, undeniable. The cascading effect helped Hastings and god knows how many other suspects that we don’t even know about. It is the Oakland County prosecutor’s office from 1977 and complicit law enforcement who bear the blame for this corrupt state of affairs. THEY are the reason the case “cannot” be solved/cleared and why other sex crimes against children from that era and beyond were never addressed.
Let go of that footnote and keep an open mind. If I can keep an open mind, anybody can.
To quote the author of Guarded by Jackals (page 367), “This book was not written to solve the OCCK case. It was written to explain why the case remains unsolved.”
Seems straight forward to me. It was full of good information, and well told.
BeforeTheRuckus says, “Is it possible that Cory was taken off the investigation by Garry about the same time that Garry got results from the polygraph from Duncan? “
I believe the answer to this is that Cory retired from Livonia PD in or around September of 2009.
Cory and Gray had interviewed Hastings on August 11, 2009. Cory’s last notes in the case for Livonia PD were on September 1, 2009.
The polygraph was taken on October 5, 2009, and the results were phoned in to MSP on October 6, 2009. The polygraph report was dated October 9, 2009.
I’m sure Cory took a well-deserved vacation the rest of that year, and then started with Wayne County Prosecutor’s office in January of 2010. He did not begin his grand jury investigation (with WCPO) until it was approved in September of 2010, and his investigative notes begin on October 26, 2010.
If I have all the dates correct, it sounds more like MSP knew that Cory would be gone. They just needed to make sure that the actual polygraph occurred after he retired. They would then never have to deal with him again. Or so they thought.
G-Man wrote
“I believe the answer to this is that Cory retired from Livonia PD in or around September of 2009.
Cory and Gray had interviewed Hastings on August 11, 2009. Cory’s last notes in the case for Livonia PD were on September 1, 2009.”
Thanks for digging that up. I don’t have Marney’s book in front of me so correct me if you can but I thought I recall that they were arguing over Helen Dagner of all things on that flight down to Georgia and it made it out that Gray was really pissed. So maybe on Aug 10, 2009? (Day before interviewing Hastings)
So it is real interesting how in a 2 month range it went from heated argument over Helen, to interviewing Hastings, Cory suddenly retires & then polygraph test. Yeah I’m sure now that Gray kept this all to himself. Hard to imagine him realizing that the polygraph test could have had some sparks flying from it. It is sure ironic.
No problem. You can read about all of this in The Snow Killings starting on page 140 when you get a chance.
Cathy;
I have a question in regards to McNamee.
You once had a contact that was a neighbor to McNamee I believe, that wrote to you that was abused by him as a child. Is there a chance if she ever got in detail about the type of vehicle he drove back at that time? Or even asked if she remembers. Maybe she didn’t recognize the car type as a child but even the color from her memory would be interesting to know. I ask because I strongly believe he was the one in the Doug Wilson sketch along with Hastings seen in a LeMans.
I guess in his arrest report from 1982 he had a 1973 Red Pontiac Ventura. Since his taste is indeed Pontiacs and Ventura is striking similar to LaMans in many ways, one has to really wonder what car type he had in 1977. Maybe there’s a chance. Since I guess no on has ever really investigated him maybe there is something there to look into.
The abuse took place IN THE BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP COP CAR while McNamee was on patrol. Officer Friendly cruising Bloomfield Village.
To elaborate. The woman saw McNamee’s name in the FOIA documents and read Marney Keenan’s book, The Snow Killings, so she learned he was the responding cop to the Busch death scene. She contacted me and told me of the abuse. McNamee would cruise the neighborhood on patrol and give little kids gum when they would run up to his car. She was not a neighbor of his. The abuse was digital. She contacted Keenan and again described the abuse. Keenan obtained McNamee’s file from Bloomfield Township–he was clearly a pedophile and had been given the opportunity to resign in lieu of being shit-canned. She shared the file and I posted about all of it. We learned that McNamee, on a cop’s salary, was living in Bloomfield Hills, adjacent and very close to the Village where the Busch and Hastings homes were. I don’t recall if he owned the home or was renting. Marney, not the cops, went on to investigate McNamee and his family was not cooperative.
We convinced the woman to contact D/Sgt Sean Street at the MSP who was then in charge of the OCCK investigation. She called him. She emailed him–this is the third time she had to recount the abuse. Street did not respond to her. She circled back to me and told me she couldn’t get a response (no acknowledgement) and I then emailed him to ask him to contact her and described in further detail the seriousness and relevance of the information. He left a phone message for me simply saying he did not understand my email. I emailed back: WHAT’S NOT TO UNDERSTAND?, among other things. I kept it blunt but civil. To this day I do not know if he got back to her. When a childhood sexual abuse survivor comes forward and is blown off by law enforcement, they generally disappear and who could blame them? In the OCCK case not only should survivors who came forward been interviewed and carefully listened to, investigators should have someone with expertise in sex crimes present for the interview.
Street never communicated with me again, passing along to his successor, Eric Young, that I “was difficult.” A very serious lead and another CSA survivor ignored. I don’t know how they can argue that this is an ongoing investigation. Rather, it is a thwarted investigation.