Delayed Justice

McMillan Sentencing from David Schock on Vimeo.

Tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Eaton County’s 56th Circult County, Judge Janice Cummingham presiding, Christopher Wayne McMillan will be sentenced for his part in the murder of Roberto Caraballo, May 7, 2002. He pled guilty last year and went on to testify against co-conspirator Dineane Ducharme. He likely will be called upon to testify against Beverly McMullen when she is returned from Rome in the (near??) future, courtesy of Federal Marshalls and the State Department. All that is part of the plea agreement that gives him only 15 years for his part in the crime. If his testimony is truthful, we understand that instead of striking Mr. Caraballo with a baseball bat–his duty as assigned by Beverly–he intentionally swung at a post in the basement and shattered the bat. He was not eager to kill and found himself in a nightmare. …And aligned with a remoreseless murderer.

I had been looking forward to being at this event to see this part of the work complete, but I will not be. I have been sidelined by another spinal fusion surgery. I can not even LIFT a camera, much less operate one. That’s for the next several months. My trusted associate Thom Bell WILL be there in my stead. I am grateful. He will make better pictures than I do. We will post them as soon as it’s possible.

Detective Sergeant Josh Ivey of the Eaton County Sheriff’s department told me last month that he was sure Beverly McCallum–wanted for the 2002 murder and mutilation of her husband, Roberto Caraballo–would be found. It was just a matter of time. “They don’t get away often,” he said.

He and I agreed, I taking my cue from the idea that there is nothing hidden that shall not be made known. The whereabouts of an accused killer would fall into that realm. It seemed obvious to both of us that that she would slip up and be found.

She did and she was. Here’s today’s Detroit Free Press article on the same.

She has been on the run with her teenaged son since she vanished from Pakistan. There was even a report that she had made it as far as South America. But no. Rome.

There are so many stories that will come out as she is brought back to face justice. Yes, our film Jack in the Box and this web played a significant role, but it’s the dogged determination of law enforcers who had led this case the Beverly’s apprehension and the so-far prosecution of Christopher McMillan (who pled guilty) and the binding over to face charges of first-degree murder for Beverly’s daughter Dineane Ducharme.

That part of the story starts with a phone call that Detective Bob Donker, now retired from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department, received in 2015.

And it’s there I’ll leave it for now. While I may know some things, just because I may be aware does mean that it’s mine to tell. There is one thing that is mine to tell: there have been so many people praying for justice in this case. So many. I believe we have just witnessed another miracle.

Thirteen years after her murder, Renee Pagel’s husband, Michael James Pagel, has been charged with the crime. This according to WOODTV.

One of the people cited in the story is Chris Crandle, Renee’s good friend and untiring advocate for revealing the killer. Chris has remained sure right from the start that it was Michael who was responsible for Renee’s stabbing death in her home in Courtland Township, Kent County, MI, on August 5, 2006. But assurance and proof are two different things. It seems that at last they have come together. Everyone should have such a friend. Thank you, Chris. Thank you. And thank you law enforcement and Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker for pressing on. Now it begins to play out.

Two days and two stunning revelations in delayed-justice cases.

So much more to come but we don’t know how quickly. My understanding from the news story is that based on his admission of having killed his adopted daughter, Alexis Badger/Aundria Bowman, and revealed the location where he buried her, human remains have been found under a concrete pad on his former property.

Here is the story from WOODTV.

While the law enforcers are not saying that the remains at hers, her biological mother, Cathy Terkanian, asserts they are and that she has learned Bowman has confessed to causing her death. Law enforcement officials are not stating that much yet. They have to be very careful about what news they release and when. Bowman has a long history of assaulting women and is charged with the death of Kathleen Doyle, 25, in Norfolk, VA, in 1980. He is facing extradition.

Will this case keep him in Michigan? We’ll see. Or if he confesses to all or is convicted where will he do his time? Again, we’ll see.

Cathy Terkanian at last has the beginning of some answers.