Students in Northern Michigan University's cold case program provided an investigative lead that helped the Michigan State Police (MSP) identify the man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman in Delta County 39 years ago.
According to an MSP press release, in August 1986, a female reported she was assaulted while taking a bike trip from her home in Lac du Flambeau, Wis. to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. She had stopped to use a public bathroom at the Big Fishdam River access off US-2 in Garden Township. When she exited the bathroom, she was forced at gunpoint into the suspect's car, driven around and repeatedly sexually assaulted before he released her.
Initial investigative efforts were unsuccessful in identifying the suspect. Despite periodic reviews, there were no breakthroughs in the case until fall 2023, when detectives utilized their ongoing partnership with NMU's program to have the class analyze the files with” fresh eyes.” Students determined that DNA collected during the investigation and entered into the national CODIS law enforcement database with an unknown profile was a good candidate for a relatively new technology called Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy. FIGG uses DNA evidence from crimes and genealogical databases to trace familial connections.
“FIGG was first used in an active criminal investigation in 2018, and it has truly evolved into a game-changer in cold case investigations,” said course instructor Christopher MacMaster, who retired as a lieutenant with the MSP and also served as a trooper, investigator and polygraph examiner over his 25-year career. “Based on the students' review, the MSP contracted with a private laboratory to complete the testing and identified a perpetrator living in the state of Wisconsin. It takes time for this process and many steps needed to be taken, both investigative and through the courts. The State Police were able to get a search warrant to obtain a DNA sample from that individual to confirm a match, then they secured an arrest warrant.”
The 78-year-old male was found deceased in his Argonne, Wis. home two days before the arrest warrant was executed. His death is being investigated. He had been a resident of Harris, Mich. at the time of the incident, which was about a 45-minute drive from the crime scene, and moved shortly after.
MSP Trooper Jenna Leway, who completed recruit school in November and is stationed at the St. Ignace post, is an NMU criminal justice graduate and former teaching assistant in the cold case program. She was in the fall 2023 class that analyzed this case.
“It's very rewarding to know that you've played a role in giving closure to the victim, family and investigators,” she said. “And it's unique to have that kind of experience reviewing a case, especially in college. Being able to go hands on with an investigation like that was fantastic in helping me prepare for my career. I was able to see how reports are written from time of call to when all the leads are exhausted. And it was valuable to see what an investigation looked like, even if I'm not doing that kind of investigation right now. Knowing we helped solve the case reinforced my confidence and my decision to become a trooper.”
Because the suspect's death occurred prior to arraignment, his name is being withheld, but the victim was advised that her assailant was positively identified through DNA comparison.
“She was very appreciative of all of our efforts to work together with the State Police to effectively resolve the case,” MacMaster added. “This is a milestone victory for us to have our first solved case. We've reviewed nine U.P. cold cases since the program started in fall 2022, and we're excited to start looking at others with our new cohort of 20 students this fall. We want to help law enforcement move as many of these forward as possible.”
“This case is a reminder of both the importance of persistence and of collaboration in the pursuit of justice,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “I extend my gratitude to the dedicated MSP troopers and detectives who worked this case over the years, never allowing it to be forgotten. I'd also like to thank the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation and Forest County (Wisconsin) Sheriff's Office, as well as the MSP Forensic Science Division. Lastly, a special thank you goes to the students and faculty of the NMU Cold Case Program who contributed directly to solving this heinous crime and bringing some measure of closure for this victim.”
The MSP reports this is believed to be the oldest sexual assault case in Michigan to be solved utilizing FIGG.
To enroll in NMU's cold case program, students have to interview for a spot on the limited roster, undergo a background check and sign a non-disclosure agreement. They also lock up their cell phones and laptop computers before they enter the associated classroom/lab. Students pore over case files and analyze photos of evidence, rather than the original items, to preserve the chain of command. They must perform all of their work in a dedicated, secure location on campus.
Students in the first cohort in 2022 spent about 1,000 hours in the lab, which an MSP collaborator said equated to about six months that it would take a detective to work through a case alone. The later stages of the class focused on organizing, digitizing and indexing records. These are three tasks required to properly reopen an investigation, but they can take months for one detective to accomplish. Grouping everything together in a searchable database streamlines efforts to find corresponding information and potential connections.
NMU's cold case program provides a hands-on application of best practices and procedures used by law enforcement cold case units. It also covers a variety of forensic disciplines, technologies and investigative strategies. As the lack of available personnel and resources has made it more challenging for law enforcement to address the cold case backlog, similar collaborations with higher education are becoming more common to complete necessary tasks in a fraction of the time and at no cost to the agencies.
Learn more about the NMU Criminal Justice Department's cold case program and other academic offerings here.