To anyone still working this case, whether on the cop pay roll or for a book, screen play or another documentary, the gaps in this goddamn case are still obvious for someone willing to take the closer look law enforcement refused to.
It should really shock no one who has more than a passing acquaintance with this case. Despite reporter Marilyn Wright’s comprehensive reporting for the Traverse City Record-Eagle on a pedophile ring operating in connection with N. Fox Island during the same time period as the OCCK murders, no serious attempt was made to try to investigate any possible connection between the two. This even as Senate hearings were being held on child pornography during the summer of 1977, with Michigan resident and N. Fox co-conspirator Gerald Richards having a prominent speaking/lying role. Chris Busch’s suicide scene reads like a murder? Responding officer Richard McNamee was a pedophile? John Hastings is a neighbor of Chris Busch? Who cares? The case was never meant to be solved, just stashed in old file cabinets for posterity and the occasional “no comment” on this “still open” case.
Did anyone else ever notice that there was never even an empty cop/prosecutor promise back in the day? The “we will never rest until this killer is brought to justice” line you hear in almost every heinous, unsolved case? No. It was “oh well, the killer is probably dead, institutionalized or incarcerated.” That worked for these tools for 30 years. The last 20 have been spent mostly pushing the food around the plate.
A reader contacted me and told me they had done a deep dive for an afternoon on the OCCK case using only publicly available sources — this blog, FOIA-released documents referenced therein, Wikipedia, ClickOnDetroit archives, CrimeImmemorial, the James Carner North Fox Island article, the Michigan DOC OTIS system, and the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. What followed was this interesting read.
Compiled by a reader:
PART 1: SYNTHESIS
The Schonebeck / McCracken’s / Sloan Connection
The most specific finding I can offer: Carl Schonebeck appears in Det. Cory Williams’ detective notes as a person of interest who worked at McCracken’s gas station alongside Arch Sloan during the period of the murders. Williams flagged him for polygraph. Carl Schonebeck was subsequently convicted of CSC-1 in 1985 and sentenced to 20–40 years. His brother Ralph Schonebeck was also named in the detective notes.
I searched the Michigan DOC OTIS system and found no current record for either Carl or Ralph Schonebeck — suggesting Carl has either served his full sentence, died, or left Michigan. He does not appear on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. A broader last-name search found two other Schonebecks in the MDOC system: Jack Schonebeck (discharged April 6, 2026) and Kevin Schonebeck (DOB 10/24/1986, currently on parole in Midland). Their relationship to Carl, if any, is unknown.
What I cannot determine from any public source is whether Carl Schonebeck’s DNA was ever compared to the unknown male hair recovered from Arch Sloan’s car — the hair that microscopically matched fibers associated with two OCCK victims. If that comparison was never made, or its result was never publicly disclosed, it seems like a meaningful gap given his direct workplace connection to Sloan and his subsequent CSC-1 conviction.
Christopher Busch — Key Inconsistencies
1. The “suicide” scene. Busch was found shot in the head at his Alma, Michigan home in 1978. No gunshot residue was reportedly found on his hands, and he was found wrapped in a blanket — both inconsistent with a self-inflicted gunshot. The first officer on scene was later identified as a convicted pedophile. These facts together have never received a satisfying official explanation.
2. The Ess Lake cabin. During Tim King’s disappearance, a neighbor near Busch’s Ess Lake cabin reportedly called police about suspicious activity involving minors at the property. Whether that call was ever formally logged as part of the OCCK task force record is unclear from public sources.
3. Busch named three abduction locations before Tim King was murdered — documented in FOIA materials. Who received that information and what was done with it has never been fully answered publicly.
4. Richard Thompson was present at Busch’s polygraph interview and later dropped charges against him. Thompson subsequently became Oakland County Prosecutor. The conflict of interest this represents has been documented but never formally addressed.
5. Bobby Moore reportedly took boys to H. Lee Busch’s home (Christopher’s father), connecting the Cass Corridor network directly to the Busch family’s private property.
6. The blue Gremlin vs. blue Vega with white stripe discrepancy. These are meaningfully different vehicles. The discrepancy was apparently never publicly resolved by the task force.
The Gunnels DNA Gap
James Vincent Gunnels’ hair was microscopically linked to fibers found on two victims. A Y-STR DNA sample from Kristine Mihelich’s vaginal swab was reportedly sent to Identifinders International around 2022 — results have never been publicly disclosed. Vince Gunnels’ brother Paul Gunnels has apparently never been interviewed under oath despite Vince’s direct connection to Busch.
John Hastings
Georgia polygrapher Steve Duncan administered a polygraph to John Hastings in 2009. The written conclusions have reportedly never been publicly released despite being referenced in MSP communications. A targeted FOIA to MSP for those conclusions seems like a tractable next step.
The Tazelaar / Faxon Political Connection
Det. Williams’ notes reference Willem Tazelaar and a connection to former Michigan State Senator Jack Faxon. This appears in FOIA documents but has not been pursued in mainstream reporting. Whether Tazelaar or Faxon had any documented relationship with Frank Shelden or the North Fox Island network remains underexplored publicly.
The “Mino” Farmington Hills Lead
Your blog references a man known as “Mino” who lived on or near Violet Street in Farmington Hills and drove a blue Gremlin in the early 1970s. I was unable to identify this individual further from public sources. I’m in West Bloomfield — adjacent to Farmington Hills — and would be happy to check local historical records or city directory archives if you have any additional detail on this lead.
—
PART 2: FULL RESEARCH NOTES
Sources consulted:
– en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_County_Child_Killer (full text extracted)
– catherinebroad.blog — sampled across the archive including specific posts on Gunnels, Hastings, Faxon, Busch polygraph, FOIA puzzle pieces, the Mino lead, the Schonebeck/Shultz/Crosby reader theory post
– jamescarner.com/north-fox-island-conspiracy/ (full text)
– ClickOnDetroit archives (2012 new evidence article, 2016 40th anniversary)
– mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2.aspx — Michigan DOC OTIS (active searches conducted May 10, 2026)
– mspsor.com — Michigan Sex Offender Registry (active searches conducted May 10, 2026)
MDOC OTIS search results (May 10, 2026):
Carl Schonebeck: 0 results
Ralph Schonebeck: 0 results
Schonebeck (last name only, all offenders): Jack Schonebeck (discharged 4/6/2026); Kevin Schonebeck (DOB 10/24/1986, parole, Midland MI)
Kent Shultz: 0 results
John Crosby: 0 results
Michigan Sex Offender Registry:
Carl Schonebeck: 0 results
Victim summary:
Mark Stebbins — abducted February 15, 1976 (Ferndale). Found February 19. Cause of death: asphyxiation. Evidence of sexual assault. Body clean, neatly dressed.
Jill Robinson — abducted December 22, 1976 (Royal Oak). Found December 26. Cause of death: shotgun wound to face. No evidence of sexual assault. Body clean, neatly dressed.
Kristine Mihelich — abducted January 2, 1977 (Berkley). Found January 21. Cause of death: asphyxiation. No evidence of sexual assault. Body clean, neatly dressed. Unknown male hair recovered from vaginal swab — Y-STR sample sent to Identifinders International approx. 2022, results not publicly disclosed.
Timothy King — abducted March 16, 1977 (Birmingham). Found March 22. Cause of death: asphyxiation. Evidence of sexual assault. Body clean, neatly dressed. His mother’s KFC coupon found with the body. Last seen at Hunter-Maple Pharmacy.
Key suspect notes:
Christopher Busch — Convicted of multiple prior CSC offenses. Repeatedly secured probation despite charge severity. Polygraphed by MSP — showed deception on OCCK-related questions. Sketch found in his home after death matched composite of suspect seen near abduction sites. Ligature found in home consistent with bindings used on victims. Found dead November 1978, Alma MI — ruled suicide (gunshot to head). No GSR reported on hands. Found wrapped in blanket. First officer on scene later identified as convicted pedophile. Father: H. Lee Busch, General Motors executive.
Arch Sloan — Convicted of CSC offenses involving minors. Hair found in his car microscopically matched fibers from two OCCK victims. Worked at McCracken’s gas station with Carl Schonebeck. Never formally charged in connection with OCCK murders.
Greg Greene — Convicted of CSC offenses. Polygraphed — showed deception on OCCK questions. Told cellmate he and Busch were responsible for the murders. Died in prison.
James Vincent Gunnels — Abuse victim of Busch. Hair microscopically matched to fibers on OCCK victims. Cooperated partially with investigators. Has not given full sworn testimony. Brother Paul Gunnels reportedly never interviewed under oath.
John Hastings — Named as suspect by multiple sources. Polygraphed by Georgia polygrapher Steve Duncan in 2009. Written conclusions never publicly released. Placed near Hunter-Maple Pharmacy area around time of Tim King’s abduction.
Frank Shelden / North Fox Island network — Shelden operated North Fox Island as a child sex abuse and pornography production site. Network included wealthy Michigan businessmen and political figures. Shelden fled to Netherlands when investigation began, died abroad. Network documented to have overlapping membership with individuals connected to OCCK suspects.
Willem Tazelaar / Jack Faxon — Named in Det. Williams’ detective notes. Faxon was a Michigan State Senator. Nature of connection to OCCK investigation not fully established in public record.
Unresolved questions from public sources:
– Whether Carl Schonebeck’s DNA was ever compared to the Sloan car hair
– Full written conclusions of Steve Duncan’s 2009 Hastings polygraph
– Y-STR results from Kristine Mihelich vaginal swab (Identifinders, approx. 2022)
– Paul Gunnels’ current whereabouts and whether he has ever provided sworn testimony
– Identity of “Mino” — Farmington Hills, Violet Street area, drove blue Gremlin, early 1970s
– Whether the Ess Lake cabin neighbor’s police call during Tim King’s disappearance was ever formally logged
Actionable next steps:
1. FOIA to MSP: Full written conclusions of Steve Duncan’s 2009 Hastings polygraph
2. FOIA to Oakland County Prosecutor: DNA testing status of Paul Johnson and Paul Gunnels
3. FOIA to FBI Detroit Field Office: Status of Y-STR sample from Kristine Mihelich reviewed by Identifinders approx. 2022
4. MSP OCCK tip line (1-800-SPEAK-UP): Submit tip on Carl Schonebeck — coworker of Sloan at McCracken’s, CSC-1 conviction 1985, flagged by Williams, DNA comparison status unknown
5. Ancestry.com research on Carl Schonebeck — if deceased, maternal-line relatives could bear on the mitochondrial DNA question from the Sloan car hair.
Thanks to this reader.
For the saga of my FOIA requests to both the MSP and Georgia Public Safety, search Duncan’s name in the search function for this blog. My attempts to reach out to Duncan personally were met with silence. And as we know, FOIA requests to the MSP in this case just got a lot more expensive ($75/hour). This is because they now know they need someone with a higher pay grade to wade through their morass of files because there is a good chance there is actual evidence rotting in between those old papers. Not that anyone at any pay grade took the time over the past 50 years to double-check that shit.
I’d say it’s unbelievable. But in this case is is just consistent with past practices.
Update 5/23/26, PLEASE NOTE:
“I know for a fact that I never wrote in my notes that suspect Carl Schoenbeck worked at McCrackens gas station in Farmington Hills alongside Arch Sloan.
Carl Schoenbeck, Ralph Schoenbeck’s older brother operated on the far east side and in Highland Park.
Whoever is posting this information is wrong.
Cory Williams.”
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And Jack Faxon and Ruth McNamee both served in the Michigan Legislature at the same time during the relevant time period.
As did Faxon and Mike Bouchard. They served together in the State Senate from 1991-1994.
Another possible Faxon connection is John McKinney. The September, 1975 Birmingham “Art in the Park” show had John McKinney as one of the show judges. Another part of the show was an Art auction. Art objects were auctioned by Jack Faxon, who was chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Arts at the time.
There is video of Hastings driving the blue le mans shortly before he killed Tim. its in the “riot road “video. It looks like a woman with a scarf but it is Hastings with his wigged out hair and he’s covering his mutton chops when he saw the camera. Hastings failed both of his lie detector tests miserably. Kristine was one of the girls supplied to the Gunnel’s brothers by Ted on a wednesday night. Gunnels also knows who killed Busch. It clearly states in the evidence report that Gunnel’s DNA will be withheld to ensure his silence. Everyone at the Mcracken gas station was a chomo, including the many large truck drivers coming and going. Which seems impossible until you realize that gas stations are a common CIA child smugguling front, also the laundry service was shipping more than just towels. McKinney had just told a lady reporter about the kids in the laundry trucks before his demise.
You have made some very interesting observations. I assume you are referring to the YouTube documentary on the Ruin Road channel, “Oakland County Child Killer, Free True Crime Documentary.” There is some great archival news footage collected on that video, including footage of passing cars near the relevant crime sites. This includes footage from the back and front entrances to Hunter Maple Pharmacy and Gill Road (3/22 pm and 3.23 am), at 42:56, 50:38 and 53:27. Do you recall more specifics about the shot of someone driving a blue Lemans who appears to be female? Was this during the day? Location?
Do you have an opinion of who the older, overweight man sitting in a dark LeMans watching Tim skateboard might be?
This is not the first time someone has described Hasting dressing as a woman. Did he do this often? Was he a pedophile or some other kind of participant in these crimes? Did he help abduct children for the CSAM/snuff film operations?
Do you know exactly how John Hastings murdered Tim? Do you know who dumped Tim’s body?
Do you know if there were more than the four victims associated in the press with the OCCK? Were any of these children specifically stalked or were these crimes of opportunity?
By the Gunnels brothers, I assume you mean Vince and Paul. Paul was quite a bit younger than Vince. Were girls, including Kris, provided to them so they could be filmed with them? Vince Gunnels was raped by Busch. Were these brothers raped by Ted? Paul was never carefully interviewed. Your thoughts?
Everything you said about McCracken’s gas station makes perfect sense.
Do you have an opinion about possible CIA connections to H. Lee Busch, who was working in Europe for GM corporate during the early days of that agency and may have had similar predilections as the rest of these men?
Do you think Berkley PD Officer Chris Flynn, who was found dead in his car within a week of the discovery of Chris Busch’s body, committed suicide?
You said Vince Gunnels knows who killed Busch. Does he know who secured the snuff films and other CSAM and shipped it to Shelden in South Carolina?
John McKinney was murdered in September 1977, 14 months before Busch. Laundry businesses being used to traffic kids were discussed–at least as a method for concealing an abducted child–back in the day. Why would McKinney be talking to a female reporter about that?
He was subjected to a beating before he was murdered–was this beating to get him to release child porn he was holding? Was McKinney involved in pedophilia or the OCCK crimes? Was his art gallery basically a front for funneling child porn? So are you saying Shelden was in SC during this time period–September 1977 to November 1978, or was that just where the illegal footage and film was sent to SC because that’s where his trustees or associated entities were managing his assets?
Last time I checked, John Hastings and both Gunnels brothers were alive. How do these people live with what they did? Do you think their families were threatened? Do you think, after 50 years, that everyone who knows what happened in these cases will just take it to their graves?
Sheldon attended a fundraiser for Sen Griffin I. 1966. Griffin was friend with Nixon and talked Nixon into resigning. Griffin co wrote an anti union bill that created reporting requirements for labor unions. Transparency is great, right? Yes, but Landrum-Griffin made it a federal law to open the books to every single expense of a union but not for corporations. The reporting requirements are still BS to this day. Labor unions in the 1950s and 60s were the bane of all the anti-civil rights, right wing (which leads to CIA) movements at that time. The biggest labor movement lead by Walter Reuther, called the most dangerous man in America was in Detroit. By 1970 he was dead in a plane crash.
My point is: that was just one check mark on the list to get the 1920s way of life back. Shelden’s family, included. And beat the Soviet Union and keep the military industry going—one pedo at a time.
I don’t mean to make this a politics post but it is about politics from that era. Just look at LB Patterson. Pictures and films can get a lot of favors. As well as political donations.
Shelden ran in the highest of circles within Michigan. He attended the George Romney/William Milliken inaugural ball in 1965. In 1973 the Detroit Free Press listed him as one of the Who’s Who in Detroit because he was a man of significant property holdings. He and Max Fisher were listed together as “Men of Property” along with several others.
I saw that Who’s Who in Detroit, too! (eye roll and a facepalm)
You can find the inaugural ball on Page 3 of The 1-2-1965 Detroit News. Shelden attended with Hilary Whittaker. She attended many events with Shelden dating back to 1947.
And if you want another interesting name from the Grosse Pointe area, look at James Bulkley. He attended Millbrook in NY with Shelden.
I saw that too!
There’s another young woman who hung out with Shelden when they were high school age. She traveled with the parents to take him to school (or bring him back).
She ended up marrying someone else. Good for her. She dodged a bullet.
Hey G-Man, I have a sub to Newspapers dot com, I know how to look through Google’s newspaper archive, the CMU archive, you name it. I can’t find online access to the Detroit News circa 1965. I find the library websites for DPL and UM to be a circular bunch of nothing. Got a tip for me on this? A site? A hidden link in some library website? Thanks!
I would think newspapers.com would give you access to the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News.
The archival coverage of the Detroit News is extremely limited. They still have one foot in the microfiche era.
Freep, yes. News, not for 1965.
SM, now that I know Newspapers.com is a bit limited, perhaps your local library may provide options to archived newspapers. But a better option is that some states offer an online State Library.
The State of Michigan Library is one example if you reside in Michigan, and belong to a local library. Within this state library is free access to newspaper archives of a large number of worldwide newspapers. It is just a matter of learning to navigate to the proper place. You can read more here. https://mel.org/library-staff/operations/faq
Thank you. I’ve plunked around local libraries and higher ed libraries but didn’t try State of MI.
Please note: “I know for a fact that I never wrote in my notes that suspect Carl Schoenbeck worked at McCrackens gas station in Farmington Hills alongside Arch Sloan. Carl Schoenbeck, Ralph Schoenbeck’s older brother operated on the far east side and in Highland Park. Who ever is posting this information is wrong. Cory Williams.”
This is definitely false information. There was no mention in the investigative notes that either Carl or Ralph Schoenbeck worked at McCracken’s gas station. None of Sloan’s associates have a last name even remotely similar to Schoenbeck.
There is however one possible degree of separation between Sloan and Schoenbeck. That would be Father Robert Burkholder. Burkholder was dubbed, “Michigan’s worst pedophile.” In 1993, he admitted to having sexually abused 23 children dating back to the 1940s.
Burkholder is described in the link analysis chart as a pedophile priest who was moved around the Archdiocese of Detroit with approximately 40 known victims dating as far back as the 1940s. One of his victims claimed Burkholder was associated with Arch Sloan and Ted Lamborgine during the time of the killings. If Burkholder was associated to Lamborgine, this could connect him to the Cass Corridor, and to either of the Schoenbeck brothers. Perhaps he even held a position in a church near the Cass Corridor.