July 28, 2014 — GRPD solves ten-year-old murder of Robert Anthony Farmer
Almost every week, it seems, cold cases are being cleared. We are no longer quite so amazed when it happens.
But we should be.
Let nothing take anything away from the victories these investigations represent.
In this case Grand Rapids Police Detective Pat Needham and Erik Boillat were able to secure a confession in the shooting murder of 26-year-old Robert Anthony Farmer outside Miss Tracy’s Liquor Store near Neland Avenue SE and Franklin Street. Farmer was murdered in an attempted robbery, Oct. 15, 2004. The Grand Rapids Press carried this account by reporter Barton Dieters. The followup questions and responses are particularly important for shedding even more light on how the detective and Kellee Koncki, the assistant prosecutor, went about this with the murderer, Walter Antraell Wilson.
There is something most heartening about this: Boillat, Needham, and Koncki are those entrusted with the most recent investigation of Joel Battaglia’s 1990 murder. If it can be done, they will do it.
I have faith it can and will be done.
CONQUERERS GATHER THIS EVENING
The Conquerors Support Group will gather this even for their annual picnic at the MacKay-Jaycees Park on Kalamazoo Avenue SE, close to the intersection with 28th Street. If you have a chance, stop by, pick up a hot dog, meet Carolyn Priester and others with the organization. There likely will be some officers on hand, some prosecutors, and lots of families who have dealt with loss. Don’t  stay away because you think it’s going to be too sad; it’s not. These are people who have lost their nearest and dearest to crime and they are doing as they are doing…which usually means there are some tears and many smiles. We want to remember those who have been taken from us, and it helps when there are people who will take the time to come and give witness to that.
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