Post by Helen Dagner on May 26, 2007 5:22:39 GMT -5
The Detroit Free Press article on September 8, 1978, appears to be
the last public word on the possible involvement of a Pontiac in
these crimes. I believe this information was both inaccurate and
incomplete.
The most critical part of the car information came from Kristine's
crime scene. The mailman who found her was bored and was driving
along following in some fresh tire tracks that had been left in the
powdery snow on secluded Bruce Lane. He followed these tracks until
they came to a point where they swerved across the road. At this
point, he saw Kristine's body. The imprints in the snow indicated
that the car had swerved to turn around at the crest of a hill, at
the point where the driver would have first seen the houses down
below in a cul de sac. As it turned around, the front left side of
the car left a mark in the snow. The car backed up and struck the
opposite snow bank, leaving an impression of not only the bumper, but
the rear undercarriage of the car. The car then completed the turn
and footprints were left in the snow leading to the body.
The bumper/car imprints were photographed but not actually measured
at the scene. Police took these photos to car manufacturers in an
effort to identify the car. The only positive response was from GM,
who provided the names of several models which could have left the
impressions, but without more specific measurements, they could not
make further identification. LE then took the photos to an trained
photo interpreter who was ultimately able to figure the measurements
within 1/32 of an inch. The interpreter also noted that there was a
trailer hitch on the car and that it had been pulled to the left, as
in an accident. There was obviously a lag time between the first go-
round with the car manufacturers and the subsequent GM inquiry after
measurements had been figured. GM reviewed the more specific
measurements and reported that the car involved was a 1971 or 1972
Pontiac LeMans. I believe the police and the FBI know exactly which
year--1971 or 1972. An FBI agent worked on this project along with
local LE.
I believe, but I cannot prove, that this much more specific
determination of car model was made in June 1978. If that is the
case, I have no explanation why the press release is issued three
months later or why it inaccurately states that the vehicle in
question was a 1964-1967 Pontiac Tempest or Buick Skylark. Wikipedia
describes the 1971 LeMans as an upscale Tempest, and states that all
three of these GM cars in fact shared what was known as a "Y" body"--
a semi-universal car body that was then modified according to model.
It would make sense that the initial response might mention these
three vehicles as possibilities, since no actual measurements were
provided, but the second response was quite specific--a 1971 or 1972
Pontiac LeMans with a V-8 engine. Again, I have been unable to find
any indication that this more specific information was ever provided
to the public. The task force ran out of funds and was dissolved
some three months after this Free Press article ran.
Why else is this so relevant and disturbing? Because the man who
saw the car on the left side of the shoulder of N.B. I-75 at 3:30
a.m., near where Jill's body was found hours later told police he
thought the car was LEMANS because he had owned a LeMans in the past
and recognized the make/model. This witness also described primer
spots on the left side of the vehicle. I believe this same witness
stated that the left taillight was broken. (Damage to left side of
vehicle--consistent with the much later observation by the photo
interpreter that the car had a trailer hitch that had been pulled an
inch or so to the left.)
Furthermore, as stated in the 1978 article, which was based on a
press release from the task force, a small, shiny Pontiac or Buick
was seen near where Mark's body was found. No color could be given--
just that it was "shiny." A lot of Pontiacs and Buicks from that era
look very similar, but this seems very relevant in light of the car
seen on I-75 and the car impressions left at Bruce Lane.
The color blue is mentioned in the article, but I cannot determine
where this description came from, nor can I determine if they are
talking dark blue, light blue, shiny blue. I don't know how "blue"
figures in, just that this color is referenced .
Attempts to have this information about the LeMans released by LE
post-2005 have been rejected. I have reason to believe that two
Detroit-area press reporters learned of this information at some
point in the last two years, but they either did not follow up or
were somehow convinced the story had no merit or would not be helpful
in solving these crimes.
All of this being said, the world does not need to know about every
creep who drove or could have borrowed a 5 or 6-year-old LeMans in
1977 in Oakland County. But if someone knows about a 1971 or 1972
LEMANS WHICH IN LATE 1976 HAD PRIMER SPOTS ON THE LEFT SIDE, A BROKEN
LEFT TAILLIGHT AND A TRAILER HITCH THAT WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT IN
SOME TOWING-RELATED ACCIDENT, THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY RELEVANT.
These specific markers could have been noticed by a neighbor, gas
station attendant or mechanic. Someone could have been a passenger
in such a car when there was an accident that damaged the left side
of the car, probably while it was towing something. Poke holes in
my statements and assumptions all you want, but I would bet my life
that if this guy is ever caught, he drove or had access to this car.
the last public word on the possible involvement of a Pontiac in
these crimes. I believe this information was both inaccurate and
incomplete.
The most critical part of the car information came from Kristine's
crime scene. The mailman who found her was bored and was driving
along following in some fresh tire tracks that had been left in the
powdery snow on secluded Bruce Lane. He followed these tracks until
they came to a point where they swerved across the road. At this
point, he saw Kristine's body. The imprints in the snow indicated
that the car had swerved to turn around at the crest of a hill, at
the point where the driver would have first seen the houses down
below in a cul de sac. As it turned around, the front left side of
the car left a mark in the snow. The car backed up and struck the
opposite snow bank, leaving an impression of not only the bumper, but
the rear undercarriage of the car. The car then completed the turn
and footprints were left in the snow leading to the body.
The bumper/car imprints were photographed but not actually measured
at the scene. Police took these photos to car manufacturers in an
effort to identify the car. The only positive response was from GM,
who provided the names of several models which could have left the
impressions, but without more specific measurements, they could not
make further identification. LE then took the photos to an trained
photo interpreter who was ultimately able to figure the measurements
within 1/32 of an inch. The interpreter also noted that there was a
trailer hitch on the car and that it had been pulled to the left, as
in an accident. There was obviously a lag time between the first go-
round with the car manufacturers and the subsequent GM inquiry after
measurements had been figured. GM reviewed the more specific
measurements and reported that the car involved was a 1971 or 1972
Pontiac LeMans. I believe the police and the FBI know exactly which
year--1971 or 1972. An FBI agent worked on this project along with
local LE.
I believe, but I cannot prove, that this much more specific
determination of car model was made in June 1978. If that is the
case, I have no explanation why the press release is issued three
months later or why it inaccurately states that the vehicle in
question was a 1964-1967 Pontiac Tempest or Buick Skylark. Wikipedia
describes the 1971 LeMans as an upscale Tempest, and states that all
three of these GM cars in fact shared what was known as a "Y" body"--
a semi-universal car body that was then modified according to model.
It would make sense that the initial response might mention these
three vehicles as possibilities, since no actual measurements were
provided, but the second response was quite specific--a 1971 or 1972
Pontiac LeMans with a V-8 engine. Again, I have been unable to find
any indication that this more specific information was ever provided
to the public. The task force ran out of funds and was dissolved
some three months after this Free Press article ran.
Why else is this so relevant and disturbing? Because the man who
saw the car on the left side of the shoulder of N.B. I-75 at 3:30
a.m., near where Jill's body was found hours later told police he
thought the car was LEMANS because he had owned a LeMans in the past
and recognized the make/model. This witness also described primer
spots on the left side of the vehicle. I believe this same witness
stated that the left taillight was broken. (Damage to left side of
vehicle--consistent with the much later observation by the photo
interpreter that the car had a trailer hitch that had been pulled an
inch or so to the left.)
Furthermore, as stated in the 1978 article, which was based on a
press release from the task force, a small, shiny Pontiac or Buick
was seen near where Mark's body was found. No color could be given--
just that it was "shiny." A lot of Pontiacs and Buicks from that era
look very similar, but this seems very relevant in light of the car
seen on I-75 and the car impressions left at Bruce Lane.
The color blue is mentioned in the article, but I cannot determine
where this description came from, nor can I determine if they are
talking dark blue, light blue, shiny blue. I don't know how "blue"
figures in, just that this color is referenced .
Attempts to have this information about the LeMans released by LE
post-2005 have been rejected. I have reason to believe that two
Detroit-area press reporters learned of this information at some
point in the last two years, but they either did not follow up or
were somehow convinced the story had no merit or would not be helpful
in solving these crimes.
All of this being said, the world does not need to know about every
creep who drove or could have borrowed a 5 or 6-year-old LeMans in
1977 in Oakland County. But if someone knows about a 1971 or 1972
LEMANS WHICH IN LATE 1976 HAD PRIMER SPOTS ON THE LEFT SIDE, A BROKEN
LEFT TAILLIGHT AND A TRAILER HITCH THAT WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT IN
SOME TOWING-RELATED ACCIDENT, THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY RELEVANT.
These specific markers could have been noticed by a neighbor, gas
station attendant or mechanic. Someone could have been a passenger
in such a car when there was an accident that damaged the left side
of the car, probably while it was towing something. Poke holes in
my statements and assumptions all you want, but I would bet my life
that if this guy is ever caught, he drove or had access to this car.