Club Dread

[dmac]

Unfortunately, I'm already catching flak about my involvement in the tv show, about my malleable relationship with LE, and even about how I spent my time in Quincy earlier this week. I don't understand much, if any, of it. Nor should I.

[How and Why did someone obtain my 3rd grade essay, "How I Spent My Christmas", just to claim I flip-flopped on glove-free snowball fights?! What does that have to do with Keddie?]

Some misunderstand what I've said in the flurry of posts I've made since returning. Alas, that I can see. Some of my posts did not go through, so I rewrote them in haste. I've been posting as quickly as possible to get the memories on record, as I didn't have time to take notes. I concede the majority of my recent posts make perfect sense, but not all.

As to my involvement in the show, the producer requested it the very day PCSO agreed to participate. It was hastily put together, and it was very hectic to keep up with my daily grind as well as meet the commitment. It was mad.

I was filmed so not to be recognizable on the screen, and remain under my dmac moniker. As for wealth, they arranged for all travel and are supposed to compensate for my expenses, but it looks like this trip will still leave me deep in the red. I lost two days of work on top of spending 27 of 48 hours traveling back and forth. This was no holiday. It was great to meet up with PCSO, but this was no joy trip.

I fought like hell to get the production to pay for Deb's travel and expenses to Quincy as she's such a critical part of breaking the case. They explained it's a startup show and they're severely limiting expenses (to the point they're foolishly arguing over paying out the meal per diem promised me, leaving me further in the red).

I've given them as much assistance as I can because I want their episode on Keddie to be as ACCURATE & COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE. If this is going to be a good show, I want to enhance their abilities. That's not ego, that's simple win/win logic.

I tried my best to give a good interview, but I've gone from radio announcer to being very timid in front of a mic. I'm exceptionally emotional about the case, and broke down once when I was asked what I thought the victims went through. It was a poorly worded question, and I don't believe it was intended to draw emotion- it was worded from a response to another Q I'd just given. I was still quite upset by it, putting my hand up to the camera and demanding it be stricken. After that, I was admittedly less cooperative, but that's mainly because we did almost three hours straight through with a three minute break to fix equipment. I did it on three hours sleep, and was a zombie when I first got there, and became squirrellier as time drew on. I'd get Qs that I'd intentionally answer in a way they couldn't put on TV, but that wasn't to be belligerent but to give info that may lead to a better Q. It was a mish-mash, and I hope they make something good from it, because I was as helpful as I could be under the stressful circumstances.

The TV show requested my involvement because of the ramifications this site in particular has had on the case, and due to my collaboration with Special Investigator Gamberg and Sheriff Hagwood. It goes without saying this would never have happened had Josh's site not been put down like the rabid dog it (and he) is.

If anyone doubts the sincerity of current PCSO's motives, they need look no further than the press impact they've made. After a silence of 32 years, the case is getting exponentially more attention than it did when the murders occurred, and it's carried nationwide. Their approach is stating the case was an easily-solvable murder hindered by a cover-up. They've taken a 'no-going-back' stance.

Anyone doubting the earnestness of Gamberg's & Hagwood's motives and openness must also not trust my own work or opinions. Many fear I've gone feral. Many believe I've gone soft. Most longstanding jackasses are so blinded by their 'open-mindedness' that anything's possible SO LONG AS DMAC IS WRONG. At this point, I have no time for naysayers and politely ask them to leave the forum. This is not a place for morons.

Deb and I were referred to Mike Gamberg as the new Special Investigator by none other than Don Stoy, a major participant in the corruption of Plumas and this case. Thus began my dubious suspicions of Mike's role in this melodrama. I've spent 2-3 years going from loathing to collaboration with Gamberg. When I first emailed the Sheriff to verify Mike was officially involved and it was okay for me to discuss the case with him, he, to his credit, gave a brief reply similar to this:

"Yes, Detective Gamberg is officially in charge of the Keddie case, at my behest. I don't want to turn this into a pissing contest. Please work with him."

Mike and I began building a rapport. We eventually began trading info and leads- which paid off. I got all the stolen Keddie Files together (which I'd boxed up for safe storage) and mailed them back to him. That created a great deal of good will, and tremendously improved matters. That's when our relationship, and the case, began cooking.

I trusted the files Josh stole would be in safe hands- and they are. I saw them meticulously integrated into Mike's categorized library of Keddie case files. Once resting impolitely in frayed boxes, Mike has turned the scattered papers and photos into a cross-referenced library. To illustrate, Mike and I were joking about how intolerable our partnership was at the beginning. He whizzed around in his chair, pulled out a binder entitled "dmac's forum" and wanted to read my first email to him. I said, "No! No! It's too embarrassing!"

It is.

Something far more potent is the pink suit. I saw B&W shots at the back of a crime scene photo binder and Mike didn't know what it was, but I said "it's the f-ing pink suit!" Mike pulled out his magnifier, looked at the evidence card in the photos, grabbed another binder from the bookcase, and confirmed it was the pink suit by looking up the cross-referenced evidence number. A WOMAN'S suit, not related to Tina but, perhaps, to Sue. Within sixty seconds, we'd solved a decades-long issue, and we spent several minutes discussing it's possible importance, that it was 'hidden' in the swimming hole near the wye.

That's collaboration.

I only had a few hours in the Keddie room, and much of it was spent meeting people and discussing how I got into the case and how the deb/dmac/pcso collaboration began; it's a widely-heard anecdote in certain regions. Greg, Mike, and I all were talking ideas and opinions. Meanwhile, I was going through as many binders as I could, trying to see everything. I didn't have time to obsess over any single photo or file.

It was a very rushed experience, traveling so long for so little time. I tried to do as much as I possibly could. Fortunately, I'm familiar enough with the case and other photos to know when something stands out, and I made several important discoveries at first glance (killers left bloody clothing! Two packs of Camels! Tina was in the big bed! LE thought the downed line very important! The autopsies are truly a crock of shit! Same weapon used on Sue and Dana! etc etc)

Those that don't like the results of my visit, or distrust my relationship with current PCSO, can go fuck themselves. Your opinions were shat upon by the results we've delivered. If you don't believe the bottom line, quit smoking meth and let your paranoia dissipate.

[sparkplug]

Seems to me like you did a great job while there being interviewed, as you always have to anything pertaining to this case. You have a true gift as a sleuth/detective. As far as people calling you out for teaming up with LEOs, how else would this case ever be solved? I couldn't imagine the emotional peak you experienced while there, after your completely insane dedication and hard work in the past years. You are an inspiration, an enigma and an amazing person. Hats off to you, sir.

[narmrn]

You owe NO explanation to anyone who questions your actions or motives. Have they forgotten that there are 4 people who lost their lives and deserve justice. Sometimes people simply disgust me in their self righteousness. Enough from them.

[dmac]

Thanks for the comments of support.

The first time I went to Plumas, despite my anonymity I was still afraid of being in the area. I feared being pulled over for any small infraction, having an out of state rental, etc. Despite playing it down at the time, it was still fairly common knowledge on the forum I was heading that way, and I knew LE and others were watching the forum, so I understood there was a risk of being found out. I did end up getting pulled over, but I was given a speed warning (the speed dropped by about 40 mph in the space of thirteen inches) and advice on where to eat: Anna's in Greenville, which is fantastic. I gave the same advice to the film crew last week.

This time, I went straight to PCSO and announced my presence. I was treated very well, like a celebrity. Three people I encountered by chance while in Q figured out who I was because they read the papers, watch the forum, etc. One is even a member. I know I still have enemies in the region, but I'm glad I only met friendlies and was treated so well.

It was also an emotional experience, of course, because I've invested so much into the case and into exposing the true nature of the injustice done the dead and living victims. The question posed that crushed me was a followup to aan answer I'd already given, but the way it was phrased destroyed the composure I'd struggled to maintain. It was something similar to

"What do you think the kids went through?"

We were discussing the three surviving boys and that triggered huge emotion, which was enough to make me apply it to the Big Picture and what everyone went through, so I completely lost it. I'd warned them at the outset that I'm extremely emotional when discussing the case, and they treated me very well in the questioning, so I hope they won't use any of it. Then again, what good is it to have a darkened, backlit figure sobbing uncontrollably? LOL

As I mentioned elsewhere, I put my hands up to the camera and started into an angry few sentences, and regained my composure and moved on, but I think that's when I became squirellier, more fidgety, less cooperative (although it was completely unintentional). I was already very tired and now felt even more vulnerable, so I was more defensive in my answers in one way, while looser in another. That's when I began giving answers they couldn't use as well (swearing more, making blue analogies, etc.) I was trying to answer the questions in a way that would give the interviewer enough info to phrase a better Q without being able to use my original answer.

He'd say, "can you rephrase that in a way we can use it?" and if it was an aspect that I didn't want spotlighted, I'd say "no. Can you rephrase the question?" (Thank You, John Daly). There is so much about the case that I don't want paraded around for the sake of cheap titillation, and I don't believe that's what this production is about- we're doing our best to screen out the trash shows. And I hope the production does a good job with the material and stays true to the main aspects of the case. As I said at the time I broke down, " This is not Barbara Walters! That's not what this is about!"

It's about murder, and justice stolen by absolute criminals wearing badges.

[billyc1048]

It is too bad that the visit with the PCSO and the files couldn't have been longer so as you time to see even more evidence. It does look like you soaked up plenty while out there and it will be interesting to see what you have found out. It appears that the powers to be in the department truly want to solve the case, which is all most decent people want. As a newbie here it is difficult to understand why many people in the Keddie community would lie and distort the truth about what really went on there on that horrible night. Do they like the idea that murderers got away and could do the same thing to their family and friends. DMAC you are a brave soul to go back to this area. After reading about what was going on out there I wouldn't step foot in that county. The scenery there is gorgeous, some people not so much.

[JEP]

I think my fascination with this case has a lot to do with this forum and how you refuse to give up until some sort of justice is served. I don't have an inch of sleuthing ability, it's not my forte, and I just don't want to throw out stuff that makes no sense because every time I come to the forum, I read a little more, learn a little more, but I'm very interested in watching you "work". I don't think I really understood how personal this is to you until I read your above post. These people were very poor. They were people no one cared about. The coverup by LE makes me think this goes way beyond someone getting pissed about marital interference. Whatever "it" is, it's strong enough and intimidating enough that even now, all these years later, no one is talking. I believe the answers are in this forum, right now. That's why I keep coming back. Good job D!

[dmac]

My involvement wasn't a political or class statement, but it sure-as-shit is now. A key component of the coverup was the "pursuit to control" containing the lie by tossing the surviving victims into the gutter under the aegis of "nobody will believe them, nobody will question us".

This is a textbook case of stupid, criminal pigs leaving a wide swath of destruction by which to pursue them as the criminal element they are.

There wasn't a bright bulb in this room.

I don't at all enjoy the idea of associating the good work of many cops with the empowered crooks who destroyed the investigation. I don't know how to say, in new ways, that the 'cream' intentionally screwed this case. Doug Thomas? CRIMINAL! DeCrona? Elliott? Rope swings!

Please read this missive from 2011 This five-year-old statement was no assumption or political statement, just a rude awakening that the case had been screwed by high-up crooks wearing badges.

[dmac]

As for 'personal', I haven't explained it properly and don't know if I can. I never knew the situation or victims, and still don't. But my involvement in the case began on Sunday, April 12, 1981 when the murders were carried on the UPI and AP wires. I was working as a radio producer and pulling stories for the top-of-the-hour news, but I'd been through Keddie as a pup and realized Johnny was my age.

I initially connected with Johnny but, once I rediscovered the case in 2006, thought of Tina as the emotional touchstone in the case. She still is, at least for me. That's no disrespect to the lives and deaths of Sue, Dana, and John. It's not remotely a slight, and perhaps it's a way of centralizing my emotion on one aspect so as to think clearly about the rest? I care about them all, despite not knowing them, but Tina just breaks my heart every time.

The first time I went to the memorial site, I only spoke to her, and said "we're getting close". Last week, I said "we're almost there".

We are.

[AliWProk]

I am so in awe of what you all have done. I have a case I've been following since I was 10. Four kids (2 girls, 2 boys) were abducted, raped, murdered, and dumped - posed and clean - in a Detroit suburb in the winter of 1976 through spring 1977.

The last victim of the Oakland County Child Killer, Tim King, was abducted from a place I know well, and I was just a kid...anyway, I relate to Keddie because, just like Keddie, the police intentionally covered up their malfeasance in the OCCK case. And I fervently hope every single day to glean something from your work that will help us come to some sort of justice for these kids. Because their families go on, still suffering, without justice.

I have so much hope when I see the breakthroughs happening in the Keddie murders. I wish you nothing but what you need to solve this.

[dmac]

I have a vague familiarity with that case because I was resaerching aspects of Keddie. Wasn't that the case where the kids were all abducted within feet of something like an American Legion house? I know this case from muscle memory, because I've looked into so many cases to see similarities or to even discount involvement.

I didn't walk into this yelling MARTY MARYLIN BO DOUG THOMAS CRIMELY, I found it from research and vetting facts from fiction.

[AliWProk]

No, these kids were abducted from different places, in a town called Birmingham, MI.

This is also known as "The Babysitter" case. The killer(s) kept these kids for days, sometimes weeks, before meticulously bathing and grooming them, and then dumping their bodies, posed, in the snow around Oakland County. The last victim was dumped in Wayne County. One girl was kept for 19 days.

Law enforcement has been completely fucking ridiculous. The families are denied information through FOIA that the media already has for years, etc. The prime suspect allegedly committed suicide in November 1977 - we believe he was murdered as part of the cover up. This case is tied to child porn rings (North Fox Island/Dyer Grossman/Francis Shelden/Brother Paul's Childrens Mission) and sexual slavery.

It's a cluster of epic scale.

I have been researching this case for 35 years. Just like you with Keddie, I know all sorts of weirdness, people, ins and outs, but will never know certain things that would bring it all into sharp focus. Except maybe. Maybe someday.

[dmac]

Yep, that's actually the same case. To my knowledge, they were all abducted within yards of some Order of the Eagles, you know that shit- one of the men's or vets clubs. There's a case in nearby Oscoda, which alerted me to the Oakland County stuff. Same scenario in many ways, but I believe coincidental and unrelated.

[AliWProk]

One kid, the first victim was walking home from an American Legion Hall when he was adbucted. The rest were nowhere near such a place (I lived in Wayne County and have been to abduction and dump sites, used maps of the time). So I'm not sure you have the right case.

Mark Stebbins, 12, of Ferndale, was last seen leaving an American Legion Hall on Sunday afternoon, February 15, 1976. He had told his mother he was going home to watch television. His body was found on February 19, neatly laid out in a snowbank in the parking lot of an office building at Ten Mile Road and Greenfield in Southfield (some reports claim Oak Park; Greenfield is the boundary between the two cities). He had been strangled and sexually assaulted with an object. Rope marks were seen on his wrists. He was fully clothed in the outfit he was wearing when last seen alive.

Jill Robinson, 12, of Royal Oak, packed a backpack and ran away from her home on Wednesday, December 22, 1976, following an argument with her mother over dinner preparations. The day after her disappearance, her bicycle was found behind a hobby store on Main Street in that city. Her body was found on the morning of December 26, along the side of Interstate 75 near Big Beaver Road in Troy. She was killed by a single shotgun blast to the face. She was fully clothed and still wearing her backpack. The body was placed within sight of the Troy police station, once again, laid out neatly in the snow.

Kristine Mihelich, 10, of Berkley, was last seen Sunday, January 2, 1977 at 3:00 pm at a 7-Eleven store on Twelve Mile Road at Oakshire in Berkley, purchasing a magazine. A mail carrier spotted her fully clothed body 19 days later on the side of a rural road in Franklin Village. She had been smothered. The body was laid within view of nearby homes, eyes closed and arms folded across the chest, once again in the snow.

Timothy King, 11, borrowed 30 cents from his older sister and left his home in Birmingham, skateboard in hand, to buy candy at a drugstore on nearby Maple Road on Wednesday, March 16, 1977, at about 8:30 pm. He left the store by the rear entrance, which opened to a parking lot shared with a supermarket, and vanished.

An intensive search was executed that covered the entire Detroit metropolitan area, and there was widespread media coverage, already heavy with coverage on the previous three slayings. In an emotional television appeal, Timothy's father, Barry King, begged the abductor to release his son unharmed.

In a letter printed in the Detroit News, Marion King wrote that she hoped Timothy could come home soon so she could serve him his favorite meal, Kentucky Fried Chicken. In the late evening hours of March 22, 1977, two teenagers in a car spotted his body in a shallow ditch alongside Gill Road, about 300 feet south of Eight Mile Road in Livonia, just across the county line in Wayne County. His skateboard was placed next to his body. His clothing had been neatly pressed and washed. He had been suffocated and sexually assaulted with an object.

The postmortem showed that Timothy had eaten fried chicken before he was slain.

[dmac]

Yep. American Legion. In 1969, the AL lodge was two blocks from where Pamela Hobley & Patricia Spencer were last seen. For decades, it was assured they disappeared from the road leading away from the school (miles west) where they skipped afternoon classes on Halloween day. Just a couple years back, someone came forward admitting they gave them a ride into downtown Oscoda. It was vetted.

I don't think the cases are related, but they were dropped off withing two blocks of an AL lodge- that's the research I did to prove others claiming Pam and Pat may be connected to the Oakland County Killer have a leg to stand on. They do, but I still don't believe there's any relationship.

Nuff said. It's just another wormhole I've gone into looking for relationships to Keddie.

[AliWProk]

The relation I make between Keddie and OCCK - and the reason I feel I have something to glean from this case - is the police coverup.

In the case of OCCK, it may have just come down to money - kickbacks to protect the rich guy's son (suspect) kept him out of jail.

Why in world would Keddie cops cover up for MMB? Fear of the Mob? What would they have to gain?

[sparkplug]

I would think drug trafficking and Bo being in the witness protection program.

[IPO]

For me, there are many victims as a result of this crime. Those murdered and the children left behind. But it is Tina who I feel was the most helpless victim of all. At her young age she was totally defenceless. She shouldn't have even been at home that night, and wouldn't have been if she had been allowed to be at the sleepover next door. Reports on this forum show how callously her allegations of sexual abuse were taken. If she had been a child of parents with good standing in the community her allegations would have been treated differently, I agree dmac that these people were poor, and the murder investigations were conducted accordingly.

dmac, it is because of your intelligence, investigation skills, no nonsense approach, and perseverance that is finally bringing this case into the light. For far too long this horrific night has stayed in the darkness. Thank you.

[dmac]

I'm not much of a "true crime aficionado" (admittedly, a climbed a chair to reach my parent's copy of "Helter Skelter" at age ten) but the Oakland County case is very interesting, and I agree it was solved and corrupted. I don't know too much on it, but it stinks to high hell of police corruption.

I think the corruption angle may be what piques my interests now. It's a huge problem that destroys the work of the mainstay guys trying to keep us safe just by doing their sworn duty.

I hate corruption.

Given my history and the amount of abuse I've given and taken, call me Spermico, as in Serpico but updated to fit my gawping whole.

[dmac]

Here's an anecdote from the trip that I find very amusing because I experienced it. Please don't read if easily bored. Wait for the punchline.

In 2011, I took a member of the forum to Keddie. I'd never been there except as a weening pup, but still knew it from my research of the case. We drove a rental car and ended up looking for a meal in Reno. I know these casino towns offer cheap meals and deals, so I asked around for the best advice on prime rib. We parked, walked, entered, waited 45 minutes for food. Not good service. Shitty slow, but we were bouncy and high on the fact we were so close to Keddie. My dog slept in the car. The next time he peed was at Keddie pond, where the hammer was found. Paid in full.

This time, I left the plane, spent an hour at the car rental, got a cool little black Dodge Dart, and sped off to Q. Nope, I headed to downtown Reno looking for a placard about a good prime rib offer. I was hungry, hadn't eaten since the airport at 8 am. I WANT PRIME RIB! AND HORSERADISH!

I found a sign advertising a full prime rib meal and found a parking space, walked back, went inside, and immediately realized it was the same place I'd been to in 2011- the Cal-Neva! Walk in, two 1960s escalators whisk you upstairs. Same damned place! It was "slap me, am I dreaming" time. I knew exactly where to go to find the eatery, although I'd only been there once before. Last time, it took forever to get food, so I said "I know what I want and I want it now, and I'll tip for fast service." They had salad and water on my table before I sat down, and the prime rib was polished off ten minutes later. And they didn't have bakers! But their fries are steak style and pretty goddamned good, so my advice is to go to Cal Neva and explain you don't wish to wait.

Cal-Neva is also the same casino Sinatra and Dino got involved with in Tahoe. Dino wisely backed out, but Sinatra was in for the tunnels and love nests between the exclusive bungalows. Sam Giancana and Marilyn Monroe. It got ugly.

Read up on Cal-Neva and then hit them up for beef. Beware, the white sauce may not be horseradish.

[DetectivePizzaJunkie]

LMAO as a server I am always motivated to prompt n ass kissing service when a real tipper sits down. Hope the food was fantastic. IMO you deserve a good meal. We have had run ins but I respect your work.