Delayed Justice

ARRESTS MADE: see the story here.

Early in the morning of June 26, 1983, in the village of Vicksburg, Kalamazoo County, MI,  Ted Cross went out to get the Sunday morning newspaper and found the body of his son, Erik Stirling Cross, in front of the family’s home. Unknown to his parents, Erik had sneaked out the night before to attend a party that hundreds of local teenagers also attended. Erik had an altercation with a person at the party, who is the main “person of interest.” The police initially called Erik’s death an accident, but there was evidence that he was tied to the car and dragged for a distance.

This report of Crime Watch Daily is probably the most comprehensive telling of the unsolved homicide.

MJVH/DBS

I had been asked to speak a year or so ago at a meeting of The Conquerors, a Grand Rapids support group for the families of the murdered.   There was a palpable sense of not being able to do much in relation to the solving of the crimes that had deprived them of those they loved.  My suggestion was that the most important thing these family members could do was to keep telling the story, no matter where, no matter when.  It met with some approval.  Yes, that they could do; in fact it was something they already were doing.  In fact, often, especially at the early stages they couldn’t stop themselves from speaking of the monstrosities of murder that had so overtaken them.  We talked about channeling that force into websites and Facebook and YouTube.

It is no surprise at all that social media–in this specific case, Facebook–can come to the aid in a murder investigation.  For as much as I’ve cautioned against making public what should be private information, Facebook is also a great site to keep tabs on those who need to share the widely known details of a murder and to appeal for help…an appeal for those who know something to come forward.  

Erik Cross was killed by a vehicle June 26, 1983, and his case has languished for lack of people coming forward.  This October his sister, Jackie Mitchell, created a Facebook site to memorialize him, but also to make that personal appeal to those she believes know something and are in the community or still tied to it and who have remained silent all these 27 years.  Here’s the Facebook site.

The buzz started immediately.  Some of the Friends of Erik posted information on this site.  They reached out to Dateline NBC, to local newspapers and television stations…and in some sense the appeal is working: people are talking.  

Here are two stories by Rex Hall, Jr., of the Kalamazoo Gazette.  In the  first, he reports the efficacy of the Facebook page:

Since the page was created, [Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Detective Sgt. Rich] Mattison said he has received nearly 10 phone calls about the case and three to four tips have been reported through Silent Observer. While the tips have not contained any new information, he said he’s confident the profile page “could very well” end up helping to crack the case.

“Any time people start talking … it’s a good thing. The more of that that’s out there is great for police,” he said. 

 In the second story, investigators relate ways they are using Facebook in all kinds of cases.  Both are well worth reading.

This use of social media is makes all the sense in the world.  This is just one more way the search for justice expresses itself.

Russell Vane has been bound over for trial in a Kent County probable cause hearing in the 1979 murder of Dianne Holloway and the 1976 rape and murder of Kathryn Darling.  You can read Barton Deiter’s story in The Grand Rapids Press here.

This is an amazing story of the solving of these five (possibly six) murders.  The author is Dennis Pelham of The Daily Telegram in Adrian.  And here is where the primary credit goes, according to the story: to Detectives Tim Judson of the Adrian Police Department, Sgt. John Figurski of the Michigan State Police and Lenawee County assistant prosecutor Burke Castleberry.  You have to know there was a tremendous support staff behind them, too; this kind of effort doesn’t happen in a vacuum.  Bravo.  The news account reveals that Anthony Guy Walker  has pled to the murders or being involved in murders in these cases.  By my reckoning, he was 18 when he was involved in the first of this series.

There was another victim, but one not included in the plea-deal admissions: Jessica Madison, the 10-month old daughter of  Yolanda Torres Madison.  Yolanda Madison had been shot in the same incident as Theresa Carey.  Little Jessica Madison died in the house fire that was set after the murders.  According to reporter Pelham, “Anthony Walker adamantly denies setting the fire at the house after killing the two women …(and) claims he is not responsible for [Jessica’s] death.”

Georgette Latrice Diggs, a 23-year-old single mother of three, was murdered October 24, 2002 in her East Park Manor appartment, 587-C Howell, Muskegon Heights.  Police theorize the murder occurred in the early morning hours; Diggs’ body was discovered by her then six-year-old daughter Chardanaye Diggs when she awakened and was preparing to go to school.  The daughter ran across the street to her grandmother’s home to report that her mother had been injured.  Also in the house at the time were Diggs’ one-year-old twins, Ashanti and Chianti Diggs.

There was no sign of forced entry, leading police to say it’s likely Diggs knew her attacker well enough to allow him or her access to the apartment.  In 2009, Police reported that they had what they called “a viable suspect” and were working the case.  It remains active, Muskegon Heights Detective Calvin Mahan said in the fall of 2010. 

The children’s grandmother, Edith Oakes, has raised the three since the murder.

The probable cause hearing against Russell Vane in the matter of the 1979 murder of Diane Holloway keeps marching on.  Grand Rapids Press reporter Barton Deiters has been on the story ever since Vane’s arrest June 23.  (He did have help from another outstanding reporter, John Tunison.)  Today’s odd turn is the arrest of a witness: Witness jailed on perjury charge during today’s hearing for murder suspect Russell Vane

Also from today: Russell Vane’s son details nightmare childhood: cigarette burns and his mother’s rape

Here are some of the most recent stories:

December 3: Mother of Grand Rapids murder victim tells of daughter’s disappearance, finding her underwear on the ground; Ex-wife says Russell Vane transformed from menacing man to quiet citizen

December 2: Court hears testimony from ‘naked man in the closet’ at Russell Vane cold case rape, murder hearing; Beatings, rapes, threats: Ex-wives of Russell Vane describe nightmare of abuse; Russell Vane hearing continues today with evidence in 30-year-old murders

November 30: Murder, rape suspect Russell Vane’s relatives testify he beat, sexually abused them; Testimony in cold case hearing of Russell Vane focuses on strangling, rapes of two pregnant women in late 1970s; Russell Vane’s lawyer makes failed attempt to say Kathy Darling was slain by mother-in-law; Testimony in 30-year-old murder, rape charges against Russell Vane happens today in Grand Rapids

And here is a link to all the stories about Vane that have appeared in the Press.  Most imPRESSive, Mr. Deiters, et al.  Thank you.

If you are familiar with this website and its coverage of the Janet Chandler murder case you will know the name Robin Clonkey as someone one witness identified in court as raping Janet Chandler during the course of her murder.  What you might not know is that the members of the cold case team that investigated the murder sought his arrest with the other six who were arrested and who either pled or were convicted.

How do I know?  Because last year–soon after the appeals were denied for those convicted in the case–I filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the Request for Arrest Warrants.  The paperwork I received indicates that one arrest, that of Robert Michael Lynch, had already been made as of August 28, 2006.  The warrants requested at that time included those for James Cleophas Nelson Arthur Carlton Paiva, Laurie Ann Swank, Freddie Bass Parker, Anthony Robert Eugene Williams and, lastly, Robin Jean Clonkey…all for Homicide–Murder 1st Degree-Premeditated, and Homicide–Felony Murder.  

All the warrants but that for Clonkey were issued. 

Why not Clonkey?  There have been several reasons offered from the possibility of the case against him not being strong enough to the fear that if he were arrested and if the case went to trial there was the possibility that–if there were testimony conflicting with that offered in the 2007 trial–there may be additional grounds for appeals by those already convicted.

There is no longer any need to be concerned about the issuance of a warrant; the ultimate arrest has taken place: Robin Jean Clonkey is dead.  Here is the obituary:

Posted September 13, 2010

Clonkey, Robin

Robin J. Clonkey, 57, Pulaski [WI] died Friday, Sept. 10, 2010, at his home. The son of the late Lionel and Marjorie (Stamper) Clonkey was born Jan. 15, 1953, in Portland, Oregon. He moved to Pulaski in the early 1990’s. Robin had been employed at Carver Yachts in Pulaski.

Survivors include a son, Justin (Joy) Clonkey, Pulaski; a step-daughter, Leah Nelson, Frederic, Wis.; a daughter-in-law, Gwen Cheny, Arizona; two granddaughters, Acasia Clonkey and Isadora Nelson, and a grandson, Gabriel Clonkey; two brothers, Rick and Ray, and one sister, Rita. He was preceded in death by one son, Seth Clonkey; his parents; two brothers, Dale and Randy; and one sister, Virginia.

Friends may call at Marnocha Funeral Home, Pulaski from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18th. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, Fr. Patrick Gawrylewski, O.F.M., officiating.

Now seven of what Assistant Attorney General Mark Sands described as 10 to 12 rapists are fully accounted for.  In six of the cases the prosecution was nothing short of brilliant; Assistant Attorney General Donna Pendergast led a tremendous effort of being willing and ready to try six at once if she needed to.  Death has arrested the seventh.  And the others–if they are alive–live with their crimes.