Bobby Grinnan's death~ 1963,

[Helen Dagner]

Bobby Grinnan's death~ 1963,Bloomfield township,case got closed quickly for strange reasons. "Never believed it was a "drowning"
Black car- small compact. Don't know condition of car or the year but compacts were just getting popular so I would guess it would be newer. Parish was St Owen on Franklin Rd. near Maple. Description of the man was ruddy complected with reddish full mustache and sideburns. Age 25-30ish. both my parents went to the pond immediately as it was only a quarter of a mile away from our house the day he disappeared (a Friday). Next day an Oakland County posse rode horses across the pond and did not find any breaks in the ice. A week later, when the ice started breaking up, State police skin divers searched the lake thoroughly according to news report. I guess they could have missed him as his body was found floating in shallow water at the extreme NE end of the lake/pond. (described as an "artificial lake"). -
We had only lived in Mich. for six months when Bobby disappeared.We didn't know a lot about the area at the time. I believe my dad did golf at Knollwood a few times but it would have been after Bobby's death and I doubt that he was ever there himself. Autopsy showed only a small amount of liquid in Bobby's stomach with a few granules but nothing solid. Only a little liquid in the lungs as well. Some residual material in the esphagus. (probably from re-gurgitation, report said). Remember this was 1963 and not much sophistication to it at all. Bobby had socks, shoes and four buckle rubber boots on (reversed-not uncommon for him). The clothing was not in any way "disarranged." Been in the water for "quite some time". Had been missing just under four weeks.

The Sutters Pond was about ten feet in depth if I remember, so it was not a large body of water but it seemed bigger to me than a retention pond.
Anyway, interesting articles on the sites you referenced. I find, myself, that it is hard to keep resurrecting emotions about this. It doesn't sound to me that your subject, John, was old enough to have been involved with Bobby story. My brother was seen getting into a car by one of our neighbors and being driven off the day he went missing, which she didn't report for some 7-10 days after the fact. Our case got closed quickly for strange reasons. We never believed it was a "drowning" but that is what they concluded for lack of other evidence and because they also screwed up in initial investigation.Our police chief in Bloomfield township fought closing the case tooth and nail but the O.C. prosecutor insisted. My father did go to the Birmingham police during the "75-76" murders to talk similarities and compare facts. They didn't think it related. Anyway, Joe and I don't think John is a likely suspect in this one. Although one never knows. His age at that time makes it unlikely. Bobby went missing on March 22nd, however, with lots of snow and hard ice all over.
Good for you to keep pursuing along with Todd, the cold, cold case of the OCCK. Here is infor on Knollwod- 5050 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield, (Oakland County) Michigan 48322, 248-855-1800. KCC has a rich 80-year history of providing an excellent and prestigious private country club experience for its members and their guests.


There is no doubt this location of Bobby Grinnan's death is close enough for John to have possibly participated. It's about 3 miles due west of where he lived. Only 15 minutes by bicycle but back in those days, kids walked a lot.

Did John ever caddy at a golf course when he was 14 or so? This was a popular job for boys his age (I did so). Knollwood Country Club is very close by Sutters Lane.

Total Estimated Time: 7 minutes (drive time)
Total Estimated Distance: 3.43 miles
----- Original Messages -----

[MSBLACK]

My mother told me about this case many years ago. She was a single mother of three at the time and dating a man who was a neighbor of the Grinnan's. Mother had a date on the day Bobby disappeared. The man she was dating was very late for their date on that afternoon. My mother described his appearance that day as flushed and nervous. When neighbors congregated to search for Bobby this man refused to participate. At that point my mother started to put other things together and realized he was spending more time with my older brother than he did with my other brother and me. She sat my brother down and found out this man had been sexually molesting my brother. The day Booby was found my mother describe a conversation she had with man. He was flushed and sweating profusely in spite of the fact it was not hot outside. My mother always believed this man was involved in the disappearance of Bobby Grinnan. Her suspicion, as well as the sexual assults on my brother were reported to the Birmingham police. Nobody believed her until he went on to marry another woman with a young son who he also sexually molested. She too reported all of this to the task force after Tim King was murdered.

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