Delayed Justice

In the fray leading up to and then surrounding the film, there have been all kinds of things that I’ve blown right past…all with the intention of making note.

Foremost is the plea and conviction in the Lativia Johnson case. Barton Dieter of the Grand Rapids Press has followed that admirably. In this story from Dec. 19, Bobby Brown was sentenced for his part. Brown also served as a witness against convicted killer Robert Gaines. They will spend a fair amount of time in prison…but not long enough to satisfy Lativia’s mother.

Another thing I didn’t chronicle (but did attend) was Sgt. Terry McGee’s retirement party. Oh, it’s understandable, even expected, but sad in its way (and that may say more about me than it does about him). Sgt. McGee has certainly worked long enough (35 years) and more than hard enough, budgets are tight, it is the nature of things. And he’s going to be able to retire as a young enough man to take up some other work that gives also him satisfaction. But he was a cop’s cop: intelligent, humble, funny, deeply committed to his family, his profession, and his community. He retires with the gratitude of the community. I’m going to miss him in his role as police officer; I’ve threatened to buy him coffee. And I am certain he will still be serving the community; he carries with him a lot of the background of the crimes he covered, and he will be available for the new generation of detectives who will turn to him as they strive to finish up any matter in which justice has been delayed.

Dear Newaygo:

What a lovely place and what caring and thoughtful people! Thank you for our warm welcome this week when we came to present the film. The venue could not have been more perfect. You can call it a cafetorium if you want; I call it a perfect presentation space. And the assistance we received from school personnel..Lyn Shoemaker, principal Jackie Knight, all the support staff members, folks from Independent Bank who made popcorn available at no charge…. And on and on.

They had set up for about 350 people, I think, but by the time we were done I believe there were well more than 500…maybe even 600. The place was packed, SRO. And the new cold case team was there, too, looking for leads in all the right places.

The response was humbling. In fact, I was discommoded enough to neglect telling audience this after the first showing:

We are told in Micah 6:8 to DO JUSTICE, LOVE MERCY, and WALK HUMBLY with our God.

It’s time to do justice.

I believe that someone in that audience held the key to solving this murder of Shannon Marie Siders. That key information could unlock the case in a heartbeat. This could be finished today.

And for those who want a copy of the film, I’m now set up to take PayPal orders at this part of the site. For those of you who don’t want to–or can’t–use PayPal, contact me directly: david.schock@delayedjustice.com.

So, thank you, Newaygo, and I pray that this awful cloud that has remained overhead for 22 years will be soon dispelled. I know it can be.

I look forward to coming to your town again, but this time to celebrate.

Heather Peters at the Muskegon Chronicle said “Hey, where’s the trailer?” Well, I hadn’t even thought about it, really, but there was just enough time this afternoon to make it so. Thanks, Heather.

And we have heard from some folks in Newaygo who really want to see the film that 7 p.m. won’t work, but 9 will. Sooooooo, we will plan on two showings, 7 and 9. In the unlikely event both fill, how about an 11?

This is wonderful news…both the Shannon Sider murder investigation and the Gail and Rick Brink murder will each receive attention from cold case teams.  I’m thinkin’ that things are looking up. Yes, I knew that the Siders case was going to get this boost and when the news was released today it also gave a fillip to the story about the film premier on Wednesday evening.  We don’t want to take anything away from the work that this new team will undertake.

Here’s the press release from the MSP about the team (click on it to enlarge the image):

And things have been happening here, too.  Lots and lots of stories.  Among them:

First story of WOOD TV8

Second story from WOOD TV8

Muskegon Chronicle article

Story from WZZM TV 13.

And there are yet others to come, sometimes a little difficult to fit in when I am working away to finishing the film.  We’re getting there, though.

Now, the Brink case has long interested me.  I have hesitate to post the case because I had never received a clear indicatin from Rick Brink’s brother, Bud, that he wished me to.  I’m thinking that now, though, it should be fine…and then some.

Here’s a story about the new cold case team.  I know the detectives referenced here.  Oh, boy.  They want to solve this.

And here’s our posting on the case in We Remember.

More later, but for now…whew!

Gail and Rick Brink were new owners of a property at 14947 Ransom Street, in the rural area north of Holland, MI. They had been celebrating a wedding with friends Saturday evening, Nov. 21, 1987, and came home in the late evening. When they didn’t show up for work Monday morning, coworkers grew alarmed. A call to Rick’s parents, Gerrit and Ilsa Brink resulted in their driving to the home where they found their son and daughter-in-law dead. Gail was in her bed, shot twice in the head. Rick was in his car, also shot and killed. Ottawa County Sheriff deputies responded to the scene and started the process of investigation.

Officers from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department arrested Ryan Mark Wyngarden-Gail’s brother–for the double murder Friday, January 18, 2013. He was subsequently found guilty and sentenced (April 21, 2014) to life in prison.

Now we have a date and a place:

Shannon Marie Siders

NEWAYGO—Shannon Marie Siders, 18, disappeared from her home in the overnight hours of July 17-18, 1989.  Three months later a bow hunter came upon her skeletal remains in a nearby national forest.  The spot was an area where local kids gathered to party.

In the 22 years since then police from local and state agencies have worked the case, even convening a grand jury in an attempt to elicit further testimony.  …All to no avail.  The murderer or murderers are still at large.

A new documentary about the case will be screened in the town Shannon called home, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Newaygo High School Cafetorium (200 East Street).  The film, Into the Dark, is a penULTIMATE, Ltd., production by David B. Schock, Ph.D., and videographer Phil Blauw.  Schock and Blauw have produced a series of films about murders and are best known for a 2004 piece, Who Killed Janet Chandler?  That film helped to spur a cold case investigation that resulted in the arrest and either guilty plea or convictions of six murderers, all of whom are still in prison (four for life).

Schock chronicles his murder investigations on his website, www.delayedjustice.com.    “It’s our hope that this film also might help people understand the savage nature of this crime and its lasting effects on not only her family, but on the town, too,” said Schock.  “The goal is always for the somebody who knows something to come forward and share it with police.”

The film, about an hour and a half, is still undergoing final edits.  “We keep tweaking until we can’t wait any longer,” said Schock.  “Showing the film in Newaygo is crucially important to us and, we feel, the city.  It’s your town and your murder, and I’m an outsider who is trying to give voice to the story.  And because this is a premier, it’s likely we’ll make additional changes once we see it on a big screen.  But it’ll be as ready as we can make it for this time and this place.  We want to give our very best.   Shannon’s case deserves nothing less.”

While the film is open to the public at no charge, it may not be suitable for all audiences.  “There are fairly graphic descriptions of what happened to Shannon,” said Schock.  “And sometimes words are as powerful as pictures.”

The Cafetorium holds about 200 people, and in the event that there is an overflow crowd, Schock said that he’d reprise the showing at 9 p.m.

Schock received this year’s award for outstanding documentary from the Historical Society of Michigan.  That film was StarbyStar: Naomi Long Madget, Poet & Publisher, and dealt with Detroit’s 88-year-old poet laureate.

Edit, edit, edit.  And with the last interview shot, we’re closing in on getting ready to show it.  We hope that will be Dec. 12 (NOPE, IT’S GOING TO BE THE 14TH) if there is any place in Newaygo we can find that will work.  That’s where a part of this crime happened.  Our pledge is alwasy to deliver a film first in the community to which the crime is attached.  Now, Dec. 12th is a little faster than we had thought likely or possible, but we’re going with it.  One miracle at a time.  Oh, the title is Into the Dark.  That’s exactly what happened to Shannon  Marie Siders, July 18, 1989.  It’s been a long time, but by no means too long for this case to be solved.  Somebody knows something.  Somebody always knows something.