Six months ago I posted the work of a reader who had compiled the various composite drawings that populated the OCCK files, with analysis.
The reader has updated the document and new information has been added in green-colored text. It is compelling.
OCCK Composites and Timelines_V2
On page 4 the reader speculates that composites 11-15 could be the additional men that were arrested in Flint in January or February, 1977. This includes Busch as possible #11, since this image is in the FOIA document (OCCK MSP p. 308 of 3369, BLK 00355) along side Busch’s incident report and mug shot.
There is a new slide (#5) that refers to Operation ESP and some new psychic composites. This operation began August 8, 1977. A report was completed by out-of-town people and they left Michigan on August 19, 1977. The reader observes that maybe it’s just a coincidence, but this was happening during the Greg Greene mug shot on August 17, 1977 (if it really is 1977).
I agree with the reader’s further observations, as follows. That there is a distinct possibility that many, if not all of these composites seem to be an attempt by the MSP to portray the appearance of these men based upon the story they wanted the public to believe. And, perhaps, to sway the public towards looking for anybody that resembles someone other than Busch and Greene. While there are some possible close resemblance to some of the known suspects (like Busch, Greene and Hastings), maybe this was done to scare them. As if to tell them “we know who you are.”
This week another reader and I exchanged emails about the Busch and Greene mugshots and similar suspect sketch discrepancies. And I have to tell you, based on these exchanges, I have renewed and sickening concerns over the actions of the Birmingham PD, circa 1977-78. I’m talking at the top of the food chain there, but a small department like that–they all knew. That department already had a track record of dissuading parents from filing reports on the fat fuck for things like indecent exposure and worse. He’s the son of a big wig–“there’s nothing we can do.” They dropped the ball before Patterson and Burgess stepped on their necks. Kids were not safe in that town before my brother was abducted.
You really cannot believe some of the amazing work people send me concerning this case. It involves anything from deep background on many of the suspects and their family members, to timelines, interactive link analyses, geolocation coordinates, AI analysis, and these composite sketch comparisons and evaluations. Most ask me not to post it or ask me to curate it.
It really helps if I can post this kind of work with the author’s evaluation and comments. Please, please respond here in the comments rather than by email. Let’s compare notes here for a change.
Thanks very much to the reader and to those who comment below.
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To me, Busch, Greene and John Hastings resemble these composite drawings. Ill never understand why John Hastings has never been brought back from Atlanta and put under a polygraph. He just knew too much and lived to close to Busch. My gut tells me he is involved in the OCCK.
Jeremy, he FLUNKED a polygraph administered by Steve Duncan at Georgia Public Safety, given on behalf of the MSP in 2009. NO ONE ever circled back to him or his lying family members. Michigan LE don’t know what to do with a flunk in this case, except use it to support their general suppositions when it suits them. They much prefer the “pass”–nothing to see here. A fail? They just walk away.
They didn’t bring him back because he knows too much, because he lived walking distance from Busch in Bloomfield Village, and because a very strong argument can be made based on information from people who have come forward since 2009, that at a minimum this guy was involved in snatching and trafficking kids. AT A MINIMUM. If you read the transcripts of his interview by B’ham PD in 1992 and by the task force in 2009, it is clear what a freak he is. No, it’s not illegal to be a freak, but it is ridiculous to dismiss it all based on a “pass” (1992, in my brother’s case only) and criminal to dismiss a fail (2009, other three cases). Whoever participated in the OCCK crimes is by definition a freak. And a sadist.
“Duncan advised that there was no question in his mind that [Hastings] has some involvement with the murders of these children.”
You know the difference between a Georgia polygraph and a Michigan polygraph in 2009? The Georgia polygraph isn’t subject to a thumb on the scale by an Oakland County executive or a Michigan state trooper.
I am limited to my phone for viewing and won’t be near my computer or notebooks for several days but as a ground zero individual, I am stunned by all of the sketches and iterations. I am re-angered that Polly was never even asked to describe what and who she witnessed that afternoon and evening of March 16 so can’t even attempt to add credible comment except to say she said he was well dressed(not slobby looking) and was wearing a jacket (possibly a sport coat but we don’t know ). And, at first look, sketch #14 looks like Hastings to me- especially in the eyes.
This is definitely not a phone-viewing document. And we know–for many years now–that these police failures (including erasing or taping over the first few days’ worth of tips in Tim’s case and ignoring witnesses like Polly) were not just simple overwhelm. The dogs got called off. And like good dogs, they complied.
I remember the 70s and early 80s when hypnotists were always on tv, talk shows, cartoons, and even cheesey sitcoms.
Weird coincidence: Gerald Richards was a hypnotist. Gah! Yuck! I wonder if he was reeeeealllly a hypnotist. I wonder if he ever helped with a crime.
SM: On April 25, 1970 the Pt. Huron newspaper announced that Richards had been certified as a “Master Mentalist” by the American Mentalist Association in Columbus, OH. It failed to mention that the Association was not a formal or active accrediting body in the magic and mentalism industry. Rather, the title “Master Mentalist” was typically an honorary or marketing designation awarded by promoters, regional groups, or peers, rather than an official degree or certification. Upon obtaining this designation, Richards advertised himself as a hypnotist, holding sessions for those who wanted to quit smoking, and using hypnotism in live entertainment for clubs, parties, and civic groups for several years.
Richards did graduate with an Associates degree in General Education from St. Clair Community College in May 1975. He subsequently claimed to have graduated from the Anderson School of Physical Therapy, Bernedean University’s College of Naturopathy, and the Neotarian College of Philosophy in Peoria, IL. where he said he attained a “non-academic” Psychology degree. Dates of matriculation and graduation are not known. All of the schools were “Desk” schools, i.e. they had no physical campus and conducted education through the mail. None of the schools was accredited; all were considered “diploma mills.”
That is interesting about Richards. I’ll add that Gary Powell also became an investigative police hypnotist as explained in People v Nixon (Michigan 1985).
Detective Powell testified that he had been an investigative hypnotist for less than a year. His formal training consisted of a 32-hour police seminar. He was also a police artist and had worked for three years with a state police psychologist who practiced investigative hypnosis. Powell further testified that he had asked open-ended questions during hypnosis to avoid suggesting answers to the subject. He also explained that hypnosis is not a truth-seeking device and that it is possible to lie while under hypnosis or to recall facts inaccurately.
https://law.justia.com/cases/michigan/supreme-court/1985/71862-4.html
I guess Powell felt he learned enough from Dr. Rossi (who did the hypnosis of many in the OCCK case) to collect that fee on his own, and also provide the composite sketch. He also seemed to agree with Dr. Rossi that hypnosis is not guarantee of the truth.
Dr. Rossi’s own words say more. A February 3, 1981 article in the Royal Oak Tribune says;
Rossi, director of the behavioral science section of the Michigan State Police, said hypnosis helps restore memory “Hypnosis is no guarantee of truth.” he said. “it’s possible for persons to lie while under hypnosis. That’s why we never hypnotize defendants. They may have a motive for not telling the truth” Rossi said several safeguards are taken during “investigative hypnosis” to insure (sic) that the memory of a victim or witness isn’t “contaminated”.
“Persons in a hypnotic state are extremely suggestable” he said. “That’s why we insure (sic) that the hypnotist knows nothing about the case beforehand. We wouldn’t want him to inadvertently suggest something that may lead the witness to recall something that was inaccurate”.
Once again, I say I find it hard to believe MSP Behavioral Director Rossi never heard of the OCCK case when he hypnotized Doug Wilson. Same with Powell, Kalbfleisch and Special Agent Mort Nickell who also attended one or both of these sessions.
G-man, I replied to Mary in her comment to me about Hamilton U, the fake diplomas and some LE getting these pieces of paper. I would post the newspaper clips but I can’t here.
That’s all. 🙂
Thanks for the responding about Rossi and Powell.
Thanks, I see the comments. There are also many stories in different states about LE obtaining fake dipolmas from unaccredited universities in order to obtain significant increases to their salaries. So much for protecting and serving. Just download a fake diploma and put in for that raise.
Interesting. There are diploma mills in another unsolved murder of teenage boys in New Orleans. I can’t recall the name exactly but it’s Hamilton College or Hamilton University. One is real. One is a pay to get a diploma.
Social workers (creepy fake ones) used the school to get hired or to get a promotion.
Hamilton University was a notorious unaccredited institution based in Evanston, Wyoming. It gave degreez based on ‘life experiences,’ not coursework.
Isn’t is wild? The CEO of Cessna “went” there. LOL
I found a story/ad on a Salt Lake City newspaper praising Gerald Richards and his fake hypnotist skills
I replied earlier about diploma mills.
It is Hamilton University (WY)and American States University(I think, in HI). 60 Minutes did an episode in the 2000s on Hamilton U. Besides the schools giving out fake degrees to people like the CEO of Cessna, the schools also had hypnotherapy programs that members of law enforcement would receive (I do think there were actual “classes” re this subject but NOT like a bachelors or masters)—-anyway, some of those members of LE, as well as many other professions’ receiving diplomas could be traced as far back as the 80s but it’s believed it started in the 70s when a guy who’s last name was Marn (and another dude I can’t recall) started these fake schools.
I did not find this info on my own. It’s in new clips a reporter from NOLA found.
I don’t know what my point is with all this. I guess hypnotism was big back then, people like Richards and some in LE wanted degrees? Credentials? Certificates? To, uh…solve crimes or in Richards’ case, who knows, control kids?
Does having a hypnotism get a detective a promotion 50 years ago? Does anyone know when a hypnotism session is a sham bc the degree is BS?
I also agree that number 14 does seem to be a fairly good likeness to Hastings. It would be nice to see a photograph of Douglas Eugene Bennett & Hiram Becker in 1977 to compare them as well.
I also find it curious that the only composites where no details about are known (artist, where, when, witness) are the composites that resemble Busch (#11), Hastings (#14) and Greene (#17). The suspects that nobody was supposed to know about. Same can be said about #18 that may resemble Hastings.
But the most amazing thing I have to ask is why the MSP artist (Gary Powell) that drew drawing #17 (which resembles Greene), did this composite 15 months after Greene was convicted and sent to Jackson prison? Powell is the same artist that did many of the other early composites. Possibly some follow-up drawing for somebody’s file similar to the polygraphs?
Maybe the 1985 conviction of John Ewing helps explain it. I’ll summarize it here but you can read the entire story at the link below:
The jury who convicted John Ewing in 1985 of raping a Jackson County woman was shown a forged suspect composite drawn to look like John. What the jury didn’t see was the composite of the real rapist. The real composite was never provided to the defense and, like all of the physical evidence in People v Ewing, was destroyed by the police, despite an order to retain all evidence.
In 1984, after Ewing was targeted as the suspect in several rape cases by Washtenaw County
Sheriff’s Detective, William Eskridge, two new composites of the Jackson suspect surfaced.
One was signed 5/15/84 by “Gary Powell” of the Michigan State Police. This was a year after the rape, and bore a striking resemblance to John’s driver’s license photo. The “Powell” sketch was delivered by Eskridge to prosecutors and the Ann Arbor News along with a fabricated story that Ewing was apprehended after an Ann Arbor woman “who escaped being raped by Ewing” identified the Jackson composite as her assailant.
According to both Sgt. Henderson of the Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Department and prosecuting
attorneys, Eskridge’s false story was the basis for filing charges against John Ewing.
https://www.freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC510_scans/Justice_for_John/510.press.release9.8.20.1997.pdf
Jesus christ.
These guys did whatever they wanted, the fucking corrupt cowboys. See also, Chet Romatowski, alleged to have been the “go to MSP polygraph examiner” utilized by Oakland County and Pontiac officials to cover up fabricated witness testimonies in the civil rights litigation resulting from the wrongful conviction of Anthony Kyles. Kyles spent nearly 25 years in prison for an arson he didn’t commit. His family died in a fire later determined to have been caused by a space heater.
Romatowski is a named defendant in the civil rights litigation involving the wrongful conviction of the DeJesus brothers, as is former OC Sheriff’s Deputy William Harvey. The men each spent nearly 25 years in the big house for a sexual assault/homicide they did not commit. 1997 was a big year for wrongful convictions in OC.
https://www.law360.com/articles/2457176/mich-judge-lets-brothers-wrongful-conviction-suit-proceed
These sketchy hypnotist/sketch artists and bumbling polygraphers seemed to be on call for a detective or assistant prosecutor in need back in the day. Know what I mean?
I forgot about Romatowski, and you posted a few times about him. But after reading this 1985 case about Powell, I am having a difficult time believing any of his composites in the OCCK case. Especially since these would never be used in court. There was never going to be a court case so he could do anything he wanted or was directed to do.
Indeed.
I just wanted to thank your reader for this posting. Clearly, it took a lot of time and analysis to put it together. I learned from it, as well as the comments made by other readers.