Part 11 ~ My First Contact With The World of The Media...

I don't know how much of the Detroit area news you might have gotten back then. But the media coverage here was unreal. The reporters had tried and convicted our son's before they had ever gone to court. It was horrible. I never saw anything like then or since.

The Preliminary Hearing had been set for November 8Th. I'll never forget that day, all the thoughts and fears I had. I actually expected to see an angry mob outside the court house, yelling, and throwing stones. I know that sounds silly but if you had lived here and saw the news coverage you would understand why I would think that.

To my astonishment the opposite happened. There was a mob, but when the jail van pulled up with our sons in it, the mob held up their fists, in the sign of Power and Solidarity and chanted..."We know you're innocent, and we love you guys".... I've never been so moved in my life, I nearly fainted. It so reminded me of the "Billy Jack" movie, where in the end the deputies take Billy away. And the people line the road with their fists held high. It gave me the strength I needed. Holding my breath, my head high, and my husband at my side, I walked past the crowd, the reporters, and went into the courthouse.

When we got into the courtroom it was practically standing room only. The 1st 4 rows had been set aside for the poor family of the murdered young man and reporters. My husband and I were able to find a seat. Then I looked back and saw my son's friends parents standing in the back, and there wasn't any seats left. So I moved over to make room for one of the other mothers and as I did so, this reporter pushed past her and sat down. I told him the seat was saved and he said..."Yeah For Me"...Then he pulled an apple out of his pocket and began to eat it. He was a horrible little man, the same reporter who had stood in front of my husband's truck at the arraignment trying to stop him so he could get a few words. The same reporter who had come to our front door the day that my son was arrested and the police told him to go away. threatening him with closing down his paper if they saw any of the officers faces on the news or in the paper.

Through out my son's whole ordeal, I never gave this man an interview. I learned later from the mother of the 16 year old, that he had gone to her house the day they arrested our sons as well and told her he had spoken to both of us other two moms. And we had both said we blamed her son and hated him and his family. Which was a complete fabricated lie. He had her scared to approach either of us. Nice guy eh?

I had given only one interview to a reporter the day my son was arrested. For two reasons, the first was to let everyone know I didn't believe my son was guilty, the second was to convey my deepest sympathies to the family of the murdered young man. And I had specifically told this young reporter that I was only giving him the interview if he made sure both points were printed. The next day when I read his article I was mortified to see he had twisted everything I had said, and Never mentioned my sympathy for the victims family. I called him crying and asked why. He wasn't very sympathetic, and actually rude. I never gave him another interview either.

By this point we had been told by the new attorney we had hired, not to give any more statements. So for a while, we did not. Though I'll always wish we had.

The world of the media is so different then people realize. They think it's way to get information and truth on the current events effecting their world. In actuality it's just another form of entertainment. A way to make money. Printing the actual truth, is almost non existent. I don't know how many times I sat in court and thought "Wow, wait til this is put out there.." Only to see or read the news the next day and wonder if the reporters were in the same courtroom as we were.

I recall in court that first day, two young women reporters, sitting waiting for court to begin. They were talking of one of theirs wedding plans. When they brought our sons in to the room in striped uniforms, bullet proof vests, and chains. This was the very first time I had seen my son in person since they had arrested him. I nearly threw up and then I heard the one woman reporter laugh and say to the other .."That one should be found guilty just for the color of his hair alone"... These were our sons, our children, our boys. They knew we were sitting and standing just feet away.

We were crying, and they were joking.

Part 10~The Fight For My Son's Life Began

So here I was. My 18 son was in jail, accused of a murder I knew in my heart he did not commit. A murder he told me he did not commit.



What do I do? What do I say? Where did I go from here? What was next? All I could do was what I thought was right. I had no experience. No real knowledge of the legal system. I wasn't wealthy be any stretch of the word. I was just a clerk at a local department store, making a little above minimum wage. My husband was a skilled laborer. Together we were making just enough to survive. We had 7 children, 4 were still living at home and 1 was in college up North.



My son had been given a court appointed attorney. That attorney later called me and told me point blank that he didn't have the means it would take to defend my son, this case was just too big. That I needed a lawyer with what he called a 'war chest'. And the funds just were not there for him being a court appointed attorney.



I got on the phone and called a cousin of mine who was a lawyer. I explained what was going on. He told me he had seen the news all that day. I told him we needed a good lawyer and I needed his help to find one. He himself was not a criminal lawyer. But he said he knew a few different ones and he would get back with me as soon as possible.



In the mean time I also called the lawyer my brother in-law had told me about. We set up an appointment with that lawyer while we waited to hear back from my cousin. We went and spoke with this lawyer and I liked him quite a bit. He had already researched my son's case and had spoken with him. He said he believed my son but with this signed statement it was going to be a very tough case. He then told us he would need 75,000. just to be retained, and there would be more fees as the case progressed. I was crushed. There was no way we could ever come up with the sum he asked for.



My cousin then came through. He had a Friend who was a very good criminal lawyer and had a lot of experience with high profile cases. And as a favor to my cousin, he went and spoke with my son. He then said he believed my son and he would take the case for a much lower fee. So we remortgaged our home, borrowed money from family, and Jon's father, my ex. And we retained this lawyer. I had heard it said once that this lawyer was the lawyer's lawyer. I believe we hired the best we could.



I did not know at that time the other two boys parents or families. Unknowingly we had all done the same thing and hired the best lawyers we could. None of us went with the court appointed attorneys. This wasn't something that the authorities thought would ever happen.



I will always believe that the authorities, thought that this would be a slam dunk case. That they had three troubled youths, from troubled homes and who's families did not care about them. I think they thought they'd all have court appointed attorneys and they would all "plea" and the case would be closed.



However, these were not three throw away boys from bad homes. Troubled youths perhaps. But they had families who loved them, cared about them, and who all separately swore to stand behind them. I truly believe had they known "Us" at all they never would have settled on our three sons.



The authorities were in for a fight they never expected.

Part~9 Back Tracking A Bit....

So far I've talked of my son and what he, myself and our family had been going through. But there is much more to this story. There were two other young men who were arrested along with my son. His two friends who he had been with at the bonfire the night the young man was killed at the pizzeria.

So many things had happened in the week after this young man had been murdered. And prior to my son's arrest.

Another pizzeria affiliated with the one in town was also robbed. And the night before they picked up my son. The police went to a home in Detroit and tried to arrest a man there on the suspicion he had killed the young man here. They televised the whole thing on the evening news. The man had actually been found at the house next door to the one they went to, and he was hiding under a bed. They took him in. He was giving a lie detector test and passed.

They next day was they day they came for my son. He had been out walking around the subdivision behind us with his girlfriend. When out of no where, came a couple of dark unmarked SUV's speeding up on them. When they stopped abruptly, men dressed in black came running out and surrounded my son and his girlfriend with their guns drawn. They told my son to get in the vehicle and told his girlfriend to follow them.

My son later told us how they drove at a high rate of speed through the local streets. He said he wasn't even sure who they were. And he remembered being scared and thinking these men were going to kill him. He said his girlfriend had trouble keeping up with them but some how managed.

Let me stop here now and explain something. In early Oct. a friend of my son had been ambushed and shot in a home of a neighbor. He was still in the hospital in a coma. And at that time they still had not found the person or persons who had did it. And here was some men dressed all in black surrounding my son with guns drawn. This for sure added to the fear my son was experiencing and why he thought these men might kill him. I'll always believe that these men, these officers were totally aware of that fact. And that is why they did it the way they did. I'll be the first to say my son was no angel, he had had a few run ins with the local police, he had two MIP's (minor in possession) and a few minor contacts with the police. But nothing like this. The police set the stage that night before they even had my son in the station. Also if you remember me saying in the beginning of this story, they hadn't taken my son to the police station here in town, they took him to another station. So he had no clue where he was going until he got there.

Now at the station, they told his girlfriend to go home, and they began their night of interrogation.They questioned my son and asked him who he had been with the night of the murder in town. When my son told them. Some officers left and went to round them up too.

Now they had three boys. My son, his friend a 16 year old, and his friend's friend, a 19 year old. They took them all separately into different rooms. The 16 year old by Michigan law had to have his parents present during his questioning. My son had just turned 18 three weeks earlier. He and the 19 year old were considered adults and were not allowed to have their parents present.

They questioned these boys for hours. The 16 year old was the only one of the three who did not confess. He was also the only one who's parents were allowed to be there too. The police did try and get the 16 year old to sign a blank confession, his parents would not let him of course. His parents also heard the sounds of what they thought were chairs and things being thrown and loud voices.

My son and the 19 year old both ended up signing confessions. Neither of their confessions matched each others and were riddled with in consistencies. My son told me he wrote what he was told. The other young man's statement was written by an officer with the 19 year old's initials next to each statement. With these statements the police felt they had enough to arrest the 16 year old as well.

In the early hours of Oct 26th 2000, and without my knowledge, my 18 year old son and his two friends were arrested for a murder they did not commit. What my son didn't know nor did we, was that by signing that piece of paper he had basically signed his life away. They were not going to let him go like they had said. Even though they never ever found any evidence that placed our son or his two friends at the scene of the crime. Not a finger print, no DNA , no smoking gun, and no witnesses. All they ever had were these two statements which both my son and the 19 year old recanted and said were coerced.


How would the boys know that by signing those statements,it was like a binding contract. They wouldn't. We didn't. But the officers knew.

Part~8 Why Would Anyone Confess...

So now we waited for the minister to return with word on our son. We waited till late evening and good to his word, he did return. He said he had taken Jon a letter his sister had wrote him and read it to him, because he wasn't allowed to give Jon anything. He said Jon looked as good as could be expected and he was holding up. That he wanted us to know he did not do this, and that he loved us very much. The minister told Jon we loved him and we knew he didn't do it. That we were behind him a 100%.



Then the minister handed my husband a napkin that he had written information that Jon had given him. He said that Jon told him he had been at a bonfire the night that the murder occurred. that he wasn't anywhere near our town. And there were several people that could verify he was there all night. And also that his two friends were there as well. He gave him phone numbers and names. The minister spoke with us for a while and then he prayed with us and left. We were so very grateful to this man. A perfect stranger who had been more than kind to us and his act of kindness would prove to be very helpful in the coming future. My husband then took the list of numbers and names and started making phone calls. He talked with several people.



Now you are probably asking yourself at this point.."But he confessed? Why would he confess if he didn't do it, especially to a murder?"...



Let me say, I have done a lot of research on my own during my son's case and for years after. People confess to things they didn't do for many different reasons. You probably picture a scene where a suspect is being beaten physically. But that isn't the case. It's a psychological beating so to speak. They are actually taught how to interrogate. The technique that the police are trained to use during an interrogation is very much a psychological game for lack of a better word. They are allowed to lie, but not allowed to threaten, yet some do. They are not supposed with hold the suspect food,drink, or the bathroom. They are not allowed to promise the suspect anything either. They spend a great deal of time convincing the suspect that they may have very well blacked out what they have done. They tell them that their friend confessed, even if they haven't. And they keep them away from everyone except them.

Jon was questioned for hours and withheld any contact from anyone in his family. He was told when he asked for me that I didn't want him. He was told his friends both confessed and said "He" did the murder. He heard what sounded like chairs and things being thrown, and loud voices. Jon was told that the FBI would be coming in next to question him and they didn't like him. He was told that there were men in prison that didn't like boys like him and bad things would happen. He had been there for hours and was crying he wanted to go home. After hours and hours of denying being there or knowing anything about it.  He was told just confess, if you didn't do it then there won't be any evidence and they'll have to let you go home, otherwise with your friends all ready confessing and you not, it won't look good or go well, just say it was accident. He was also told by one officer, that the officer new the judge and he would put a good for him, and he might go easier on him. He'd been going through this for hours. He was tired, scared, and alone. He had asked for a lawyer but they never gave him one. Questioning by law should have stopped right then and there. But they continued.

My son was taught since he was small to trust the police. And he did trust them. He believed them. So in the very end he did what he was told. And he confessed...To a horrible murder he did not do.

Part 7 ~ We Lost Family And Friends....

So there we were finally alone in our home. The police had left and it almost felt like they had sucked the air right out with them. Depressurized almost, for lack of a better word.


Our house was in shambles along with our lives. Our whole world turned up side down in less then 24 hours. I had pinched myself hoping against hope that I would awaken and this would be all just a horrible nightmare...No such luck. This was reality. Our new reality. Our lives were now changed forever.


The minister had also left and we were waiting for him to give us word on our son. I hadn't seen my son since early the day before. Little did I know it would be weeks until I would see him again. Which would be behind a glass window at the county jail. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to just hug him and tell him I Loved him. But for now I could only rely on the kindness of a stranger.

I tried to compose myself as best as I could. So I could deal with my children and all the calls that were now streaming in. All day the phone had been quiet. Now it seemed like it had a life of it's own. I answered all the calls, who knows it might have been my son. But It never was. Whoever said.."You have a right to one phone call"...Didn't live here.


I called my cousin who was a lawyer. This wasn't his specialty but he referred me to someone he knew who could help. My brother in-law also gave us his lawyer's number.


I made a few more phone calls to some of our family and friends. Some were willing to listen and were willing to be there for us. Others were not. The old saying is true... "You don't really know who you can count on until your back is against the wall". We did lose family and friends over this.


My children were now calming down as best as they could under the circumstances. My 14 year old daughter asked if she could go for a walk. I really didn't want any of my children out walking, especially alone. God knows the last time one of them did he didn't come home. But she has always been a very independent child. And very sensible beyond her years. She pleaded with me over and over. She said she needed to just be away from our house after being here all day literally locked in side. She needed time alone to think.


I don't know who I was more afraid of. The people who were angry, the reporters, or unfortunately the police themselves. I had been telling my children since they were old enough to understand. That if they ever became separated or lost from me, to go to a police officer, and they will bring you home. That they could trust them even if they were strangers. Perhaps that's why my son trusted them so much? Unfortunatly I don't think I would tell them that, had I had to do it over.


My daughter was persistent, but I had visions of people showing up at our door like a scene from an old Frankenstein movie, with pitchforks, rakes, and torches. I know that might sound silly to most people. But the news coverage on this case for the past week had been unbelievable and people were angry. The town was demanding they find who did this. So they could feel that their sleepy little lakeside community was again safe, and they wouldn't need to lock their doors anymore. The news had reported over and over.."This quiet community hasn't seen a murder here in over 30 years"...


Against my better judgment I let her go. Some might think I was a bad mother. But we had been held against our will here for nearly a whole day. Even for me this home I had felt was a safe haven, now felt violated and stifling. I suppose not trying to make exuses, I wasn't totaly thinking clearly? I see now that I shouldn't have. But I did, telling her to only be gone a very short time. And she was only gone a shot time. But while she was out walking, an adult we were related to distantly by marriage, approached her and asked how she could show her face. That her brother was a killer. He said a few more choice words. But I'm sure you got the idea. She came home angry and in tears. This was a grown adult, she was just 14. And someone who she thought was a friend of our family.


This behavior was indicative to the way the community and many people would treat my family in the coming months. And why the Frankenstein movie kept playing in over my mind. Yet there were many who stood behind us and my son.


That evening of my son's arrest, reminded me of the day my mother past away. Family and Friends alike, relatives I hadn't seen in years, and even strangers who I'd never met, actually came to our door. Some came to just give us their support, others with food or even cards. I was so moved by their show of support. And the fact that they actually came to our house. Earlier that day I had one person tell me they didn't want to come over because they had a company sticker on their car, they were afraid that their car might be shown on the news. I had pictured this big magnetic type sign that people put on there cars. Later when I saw it, it was the size of half a bumper sticker.


One thing this whole ordeal was teaching me was tolerance. And to accept that everyone has a right to their own opinions. But I was going to show them they were wrong. My son's life was literally hanging in the balance. My son's reputation along with our family's was also at stake. My children had to go back to school in the next few days and face the community's children. I worked 5 miles away. Everyday in my line of work I dealt with the public and the public were people in our community. My husband's family had lived here over 30 years. My mother in-law was a huge part of her church and well known.


I had the fight of my life ahead of me and not a clue what to do. I just knew that I had to. How many times I had wished that my mother was still alive to comfort me and give me advice. I really needed her. But then at the same time I was so glad she didn't have to go through this. My son and my mother were close. She didn't have to see the horrible picture on the news of my son being led to court. Or hear the awful things that were being said.


I was the mother now like it or not...

Part 6 ~ Nothing in My Wildest Dreams or Worst Nightmares Could Have Prepared Me ...

It was close to noon now and the police had been in my home for close to 6 hours or so. I was still in the front room with my family and husband was in the garage . When I heard my husband shout but couldn't make out what he had said.


The officer who had taken my husband into the garage informed him that our son Jon had confessed to the murder of the unfortunate young man killed at the pizza shop. And that it had been this officer's experience in a case like our's,that it might be a good idea to take our family and move from the area.

My husband's first reaction was.."Bullshit! What did you do to him to make him confess?"...Later we would find out just how true that statement had been. The officer then told him that our son was being arraigned in a half hour at the courthouse in town, and only one of us would be allowed to go, not both.

Nothing in my wildest dreams or worst nightmares would've prepared me for the news my husband was about to share with us. Or the events that were about to take place.

When my husband told us what was going on I nearly fainted. My one daughter literally hit the floor, while the other one started to scream and said.."There is no god"... My 11 year old son began to cry so hard I had to get my breathing machine. He has asthma and was having trouble breathing. I think my children needing me was what kept me from totally falling apart myself. I told my husband to go because I needed to stay with them. Though my heart ached because I wanted so bad to see my son and make sure he was all right.

My husband hurried and left. While my brother in-law stayed with me and the children. Many of the reporters who had been outside our home were now gone to be at the courthouse. I turned on the TV to see if maybe I could see my son. What I saw turned my stomach. And the Image will be forever engraved into my memory. There on the news live was my son being led out of a police car to the courthouse door. He was in a striped uniform, bullet proof vest, and shackles on his hands and ankles. The officer leading him pushed him so hard he nearly fell. I could tell my son had been crying and looked liked he hadn't slept.

He was surrounded by people and reporters. They were calling him a.."cold hearted killer"... That was my son, my little boy. He was my clown, not a killer. They said he looked uncaring yet he had tears streaming down his face. He was frighten and alone and here I was sitting there watching this on TV. I saw him quickly look around and instinctively I knew he was looking for me. And there wasn't anything I could do. I can't explain the emotions I was feeling, there were so many. But the one thing I did know, I knew in my heart and soul that my son didn't do this horrible thing. He was innocent And I would do whatever it took to prove it and bring him home.

My worst Nightmare was only just beginning.

At this point my children were all but hysterical. I wasn't able to help my son right now but I wasn't going to sit by and watch the rest of my family fall apart before my very eyes. I found a strength I didn't know I had and I turned to the officer now babysitting us and told him I needed to get my family help. I demanded that if he didn't get someone there right now I would take them and leave, their rules be damned. And I would find someone myself.


It seemed almost instantly there was a man who came into my living room I don't remember him even coming in the front door he was just there. He told me he was a minister from a local church, who worked with the police and troubled youths in our area. He told me he wasn't sure what was going on but he was told he was needed here. So I told him briefly the situation as I knew it.

He then looked a little surprised he told me he had heard my son's name before that he was supposed to be getting in touch with him. To work with him. He then sat and spoke with my other children. And prayed with us. I can't begin to tell you the calming effect this man had on us all. And I will forever be grateful to him.

At this point the police were beginning to wrap up their search. They had removed bags and bags of what ended up being mostly my other children's things.

Jon and I had had a falling out weeks ago and he had been staying with a friend and her family. He had just come home stay not even two weeks before. So he really didn't have too much of his things there.

Let me say now that with all their searching nothing was ever found here. No evidence was ever found here or anywhere else linking my son or his two friends to this horrible crime.

My husband had now come back from the courthouse visibly shaken. The police were beginning to leave. I introduced him to the minister and told him what had happened. I asked him if he had been able to see or talk to Jon. He said he was able to yell to him and Jon saw him. But they didn't let them have any contact. He said it was a circus and he was glad I hadn't gone. That after they had taken Jon away, the media had descended on him and it was all he could do to get away. One reporter actually stood in front of my husband's truck to try and stop him from leaving.

The minister then told us he was also a jail minister at the county jail. If we'd like and he had our permission, he would go and see Jon that very evening. It was all I had. I jumped at the opportunity told him please do and let him know we love him, we believe in him, and we are behind him. That we didn't believe he did this. He left to take our son our message.

It would be our only contact we had with our son for weeks to come.

Part 5 - Amazing How One Can Find Humor in The Strangest Situations

So now my husband was in the garage. I was left in the front room with my children, and my brother- in law. We were being what I call Babysat by an officer that I think he was from either the state police or the FBI. He was sitting at our dinning table and I guess making sure none of us left or went into any other part of the house.

As I looked around I thought to myself that there certainly was a lot of police here and from a lot of different jurisdictions too. I forgot to mention earlier that there was the COMET team and the State Police here too. It seemed very excessive to me, especially when this crime was later described by an officer in court as..." A simple robbery gone bad".. Why then were the ATF and the FBI involved? I guess a lot of these men were also under cover officers and agents, because when a reporter came to our door. An officer who must have been in charge answered it and told the reporter to go away and that there better not be any of these men's faces appearing on the News. If there was he would see personally that their station would be shut down. Strangely enough I never did see our house on the news ever after that.

So now it was probably close to 10:00 and we were sitting there with this officer who I suppose was trying to be nice. Trying to make small talk? How do you do that, when you are holding a family basically legally hostage??

As we were sitting there, I heard a glass fall and hit the counter in the kitchen. The babysitting officer was looking in that direction. From where we were sitting we could not see the kitchen but he could. He looked a little surprised. And I was getting a little angrier and perhaps a bit braver. I looked at him and said something to the effect of..." Great! Now they're in my kitchen destroying it and breaking things!"... He looked back at me and just said..." No, There 'ain't nobody there. The glass just up and hit the counter. It didn't even break. And there ain't nobody there". I just looked at him, and then it happened again, another glass fell and hit the counter. And Again He said.." There ain't nobody there"...

This time seeing the shock on his face I couldn't resist. I told him it must be our ghost and he is mad because you guys are here messing with his family and destroying his house. I then told him a brief history of our house. That before my in-laws bought the place a jeweler lived here. And one night someone murdered him and no one was sure why, because the jewelry was left behind. That the murder was never solved. The look on this man's face almost made me feel bad but not quite. His eyes were so big and he seemed genuinely upset. A few minutes later he was gone and another officer was put in his place to babysit us. I never did see that officer again.

Perhaps it was a defense mechanism, perhaps it was simply my off sense of humor, but isn't it amazing how one can find humor in the strangest situations.....

Part 4 - And The Nightmare Continued...

After My Daughter and her family had left. I went as I said and woke my children. I tried as best as I could to explain what was going on. Which really wasn't easy because I really wasn't sure myself. But I wanted them awake because I knew from what this sarcastic officer had said and not said. Our house was about to be raided. Raided. I had seen such things on TV shows and the News, but never first hand.

In my whole life I had never been in trouble with the law. A traffic ticket was my worst offense. And here I was about to be raided. I actually went and made sure my house was straightened. Now as I sit here and I think back on it. I remember thinking I would never be good at having a house keeper or maid because I'd want the house straightened before they came to work. Strange the things you think of when you are under stress isn't it? So I did the few dishes that were there, and made our bed.


I then sat with my family and waited for what seemed to be like forever. It was about 5:30 - 6:00am. Then they came. That knock on the door, that horrible knock. Let me tell you it's a knock I'll never forget. A very distinct knock, loud and purposeful. Anyone who has had the police come to their door, knows exactly what I'm talking about. I went to the door and opened it to several men clad in black. Some I had recognized, some I did not. This is a small town. The Officer in charge handed me a paper. It was a warrant to search my home for a murder weapon.


By this time it was getting light outside and I was able to look past these men. I was in awe. The amount of Police Officers, Sheriff's Deputies, AFT, and FBI vehicles and men, that were outside my home. We live on a pretty busy main road and they had it blocked off. I believe I heard a helicopter overhead as well. Then I saw several News vans and reporters all looking at us. I couldn't believe it. As my stomach began to roll and a few tears ran down my cheek, I turned and handed my husband the paper, the warrant. Then I went to sit with my family again. As I sat there I wondered where was my son? What was happening to him? Was he with them?

I can't say now what exactly was said to us, but it was instructions my family was to follow while we were there corralled in our small living room. They asked us who each of us were. My daughter had a friend staying with us. Her friend's mother had moved and she had wanted to finish her school year here, so she was staying with us. I asked the officer if it would be possible for me to call her mother and let her come and pick her up. That she didn't need to be here she was afraid. He actually let me. I wish I could've sent my children with her. But we were not allowed to leave. He handed me the phone and shaking I called her mother. He watched me the whole time and listened. I then quickly called both my sisters and husband's brother to let them know what was happening and that we were alright. I knew they would see the news and be worried. I then handed the phone back to the officer.

Then an another officer asked if there was any firearms on the premises? My husband who is an avid hunter, answered them honestly, with a simple .."yes". What happened next would've been comical had it been a TV show. Being it was Real life and our lives, it was frightening. At the moment my husband had said yes. We heard what seemed to be every officer in the room's holsters unsnap, and their hands went to their guns. The officer then asked why, and my husband answered.."because I can". They then asked to be shown the firearms.

So now my house had men all over it. Every room. Every nook and cranny. Our personal things all gone through. To total strangers our life became an open book in just minutes. So many things go through your mind. I felt so awful for my children. I could only imagine what would happen when they went back to school. My oldest daughter who still lived at home, had sung at the young man's funeral the night before. My younger daughter had attend the funeral. I sat with my arm around my 11 year old son. We all sat there quietly. I can't imagine what was going through their young minds. I know so much was going through mine. Mainly, where was my son? Was he alright?

My husband on other hand wasn't so quiet. He kept asking questions. And wanted to know where my son was at, what was going on, and if he was alright? At one point my husband was told very sternly to ..."Shut Up". That if he kept asking questions he would be arrested for "Obstruction of Justice" for interfering with the investigation. Then the officer led him out to the garage.

By this time the mother of the young girl staying with us had come, and been allowed to take her daughter. Also my brother in law had come and they allowed him to come inside with us. I found that odd but I was so grateful he was there. And I'll always have a special spot for him in my heart for never turning away from us and supporting us from the very start. Because we did eventually lose friends and family over this.

This was really just the beginning of a long and horrible nightmare. That no matter how I tried to wake up from, I just couldn't.....

Part 3 And The Storm Grew

Well I finally made it home. It was the longest 3 miles I've ever driven. I'm surprised I was able to drive at all. But I guess I was on auto pilot.

I got home and immediately picked up the phone and began calling the station. The officer was obviously getting annoyed and was quite condescending actually. I asked him if he had told my son that I had been there trying to get in and if he knew I was trying to see him? He said Yes he had told him of course. Again another lie.

Later I found out that while I was trying to get in to see my son and calling and calling. My son had asked for me. This same officer told him, they had called me and I had said I knew what he had done and was ashamed of him and didn't want to see him or talk to him. I cringe even now at the thought.

Originally when I had called the station and had my first contact with this same officer. I started to think that maybe they really had taken my son in with other teens and perhaps he was able to help them. How naive I had been. But I was quickly becoming aware of how serious this was.

I remember asking if my son needed a lawyer and the officer responding with.."Do you think your son needs a lawyer?"...It was such a farce. A cat and mouse game to them but to us it was our lives. I was our son's life.

I know too that my son probably thought he was telling him the truth because my son and a friend had gotten into trouble a few weeks before, for drinking. I had been called home from work. I wasn't happy with my son to say the least. When the office then asked me if I wanted then to take my son to the station or take him home? I told him to take him to the station. Hoping it would teach my son a lesson. Tough Love? I'm positive that the officer remembered this and used it that night during my son's interrogation.

My son had asked for his father too. They did not let him call him either. Then my son asked for a lawyer. They again denied him. That was a big mistake on their part. Because by law once you ask for a lawyer they are supposed to stop all questioning and anything you say after with no lawyer present, is not supposed to be used in court. But then My son's interrogation and questioning, was not videotaped. So it became their word against his.

By this time it had to be after 4:00 am. My husband called the station. The officer was now very rude and actually swore at him and told him not to call anymore. That they would be sending someone to our home shortly. He then hung up on him.

About that time my older daughter came in the house. Totally upset. She and her husband were dropping off my 4 year old grand daughter as they did every morning for me to watch while they went to work. But on this particular morning all hell was beginning to break loose.

My daughter wanted to know why there was a sheriff car in our drive way. And why they searched her, her husband, and my 3 year old grand daughter's book bag. I was mortified. I ran out to the drive way and asked the two deputies why they were there? Again I naively thought that they might be there because my son told then something that he may have known, that might have put us in danger. And they were there to protect us. All the deputy said was they were told to came there to secure the property. That they didn't know what or why they were there because they had both just come off a two week vacation? What? It was as if I was truly caught up in some horrible nightmare and no matter how hard I tried to wake up from it. It only got worse.

I went back inside and told my daughter as much as I knew. I then told her to take my grand daughter home. That I suspected that this day was going to be one that she did not need to exposed to. My daughter was crying and wanted to stay. I told her no. She packed up my grand daughter and left.

I was so drained and yet it seemed every nerve in my body was on fire. At this point I went and woke up my other children who were still asleep. I wanted them to be a wake and prepared for whatever there was to come.

And Come They did.....

Part 2 - If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now

If I only knew then what I know Now. How many times had I heard that? How many times have I said it myself?...


After I hung up the phone, I got into my van. Alone in the dark, I drove to the police station. Which is really and old doctors office converted into a small police station. Right in town, 2 to 3 miles down the road from our home.



When I got there, there was no one around. The small parking lot was practically empty, accept for a couple of police cruisers. It was now after 1:30 in the morning. I went to the door and found it locked. I looked inside, the supposed crowded room was totally empty. There wasn't even an officer at the front desk. I pounded on the door several times. Nothing. Then I saw a sign on the wall next to the door and it gave the phone number to the station. I remembered I had my cell phone in my pocket and pulled it out. By this time I had called the station so many times I didn't need to look at the sign to put the number in. It rang and rang. Then I heard the phone at the front desk inside ringing and I realized it was me calling the station. My heart sank. Was this some cruel joke? Finally someone answered the phone. So I looked inside and there still was no one at the front desk.



The person on the other end of the phone was the officer I had spoken to all night. He asked me what I wanted. I told him I was outside the New Baltimore Police station, that the door was locked and I wanted in to see my son. He asked me "Where exactly are you?"...Again I told him outside The New Baltimore Police Station. I told him I'm right outside the door pounding on the it. Can't he hear me? I asked him where everyone was that he had said was in the station making it so crowded? Because I'm looking in the door and the Room is empty as well as the parking lot? I told him I wanted in to see my son right this minute. And I also asked him if he had told my son I was calling and trying to see him? He said of course they had, and he told me to calm down. That he send an officer outside to speak to me. And then he hung up. That was two of many lies I was to be told threw out the next few months. Two lies of many.



By this time I was so emotionally drained that my knees felt weak. There was a picnic table right outside the door. So I sat and waited for the officer to come out and get me. I waited there for what seemed to be an eternity. It was now probably after 2:00am. And here I sat alone in the cold night darkness, confused and scared, and I started to cry. After a bit, a couple of officers came out of the station. I thought this must be the officer who was supposed to come get me. It wasn't. They asked me why I was sitting there alone in the middle of the night, in the dark crying. I was stunned. It took only a moment to compose myself. I told them who I was and that I wanted to see my son Jon, right now. They then told me they had no idea what I was talking about. They said they were just getting ready to start their shift.



They brought me into the station and made a phone call. The one officer spoke to whoever was on the other line for a few minutes. Then hung up and said that my son wasn't at their station. That when they take someone in custody after 9:00pm they take them to the Chesterfield Police Station, in the next town. That their station closed after 9:00pm. And that was where my son was at. They told me I should just go home and wait. That my son would be done soon. Then they took me outside and left.



I stood there just totally unbelieving this was happening. I was standing there, alone again in the darkness of the night, no farther then I had been two hours ago. I was so tired and so confused. I got in my van and started to drive. I was going to go to the Chesterfield Station when I realized I had no idea where it was. I stopped and just cried. I called my husband and told him what had happened. He said they had just built the Chesterfield station and he wasn't sure where it was. He told me to calm down and come home and we would figure something out then.



All I thought about driving home, was my son, and how scared he must be and that he was alone. And then it hit me that this officer I had been speaking to all night. Never told me that they we at the Chesterfield station and not the New Baltimore Station. That he had let me believe Jon was at the New Baltimore station on purpose. And he let me sit outside the New Baltimore Station alone in the middle of the night. Hoping maybe I'd Just go away? Now I was angry. I drove home more awake and angrier then I ever thought possible.



Now as I look back, I think that was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my life. If only I would've tried to find the Chesterfield Station. If only I would've went there, I should of been there.

But here's where you say..."If I only knew then what I know now"...What a truly powerful phrase.

Part 1 - The First Wave Of A Mother's Panic

My name is Cheryl Stepnioski.
I am a mother of 7 and now a grandmother of 11.

In the Fall of 2000. My 18 year old son, Jon, was arrested along with two of his friends, for a murder they did not commit. We live in a small lakeside community outside of Detroit. According to the media, there hadn't been anything like that here in 30 years. It was highly publicized in our area and around the US. You may or may not, have heard about it. It was in New Baltimore, Michigan. A 16 year old young man was shot execution style, in a walk in cooler at a local Pizza Shop in town.

A week later they arrested our son and his two friends. It was the very worst time of my life to say the very least. I remember all too well...

I had come home from work around midnight and went to check on the children as I always did. I noticed Jon wasn't home and questioned my daughter who was awake at the time. My daughter then told me he was at the local police station. That the police had come earlier that evening and had asked my husband if he minded that they brought Jon in for some "routine questioning". My heart sank. I had a very sick feeling, I had grown up in Detroit. I knew there was no such thing as routine questioning. I ran and I woke up my husband. He told me that the police had said they were talking to and questioning all the teens who frequented the Pizza Shop.

My husband had lived here for over 30 years and knew some of the police officers. He said he had offered them something to drink and asked them to sit. And one had actually asked him how his mother was doing. What he was not aware of, was at that very moment they had already picked up Jon and taken him to the station, while he had been out walking with his girlfriend.

I ran to the phone and called the Police Dept. And demanded to speak to my son. The officer that came to the phone told me ..."Not to worry Mrs Stepnioski,your son is fine. You should be very proud of your son. He has been very helpful with this investigation. And As Soon as we're done here. We will be giving him our own personal "Taxi" ride home, right to his very own front door" and he chuckled and hung up.

Now as I write this I can see where he had been messing with my mind and making his own sick joke at my son's and mine expense.I called several times after, to no avail.Each time I called the officer got more agitated. So I finally called my Ex, Jon's father. I told him the situation. He then called the station.They fed him the same line of BS. he finally asked them if he needed a lawyer. the officer told him.."Absolutely not, this is just some routine questioning".

So I called the station again and told them I didn't care what they said I was coming down there. The officer told me it wasn't necessary and that the station was just too crowded. That I didn't need to be there. I told him again I was coming anyway, that I felt my son needed me. He then asked why I thought my son needed me. I told him ..."call it a mother's intuition..." He then chuckled again and made a comment about my son being 18 and not needing his 'mommy'.

My Nightmare was just beginning....