information on 1918a unsolved double homicide in Detroit, Michigan during 1917 or?

Question

Police officer shoots and kills wife and lover in front of two year old son in Detroit, Michigan circa 1917 - 1918

Answer 1

1917 or 18 ? Well, you don't ask easy questions about a case, do you? I suppose there is either some historical interest, or maybe a family interest in this story.

Where should you start?Since you didn't mention any names or specific dates, I have to assume that maybe you don't have either. The best answer is to check the newspaper archives for the Detroit newspapers for that period of time. They should be available either in the Detroit Public Library, or the local historical society or state archives up in Michigan. The newspaper will give you the names of the victims (if known) and the actual date. You could then check to find out if there were police or coroner's reports or a death inquest in the case. Certainly there would have been death certificates of the two individuals, which might list more information on their family and next-of-kin, place of burial, and referrals to the file numbers in the Detroit Police records. Murder cases and such serious felony matters are kept a longer period of time than minor matters; however, be prepared that these files, closed for 90 years, may be destroyed by now. It depends on state law in Michigan, and the regulations of the police department in that city and county. If there were any "cold case" files back then, you might find something still in existence; but it would certainly have been sent to some archives years ago. All parties and anyone having first-hand knowledge of the case would be long-since dead. You might even have to get a court order to get them to release criminal investigation files, even those that old.

Since one of the dead was a police officer, there might have been a will or administration of his estate filed with the Probate Court (or County Court, if that is what they called them in Michigan in 1918.) There might have been records of the petition to care for the orphan, or committal to an orphanage, or legal proceedings to establish a guardian for the minor. That might be a way to get files of the child; Michigan may have a state law that sealed those records, especially if the orphan was adopted. I don't know anything about that state, so I can't tell you the next step there.

Good luck. I know it is a a pretty long shot that such records can be found. but stranger things have been accomplished.

Answer 2

I would suggest that you refine your question; you need much more detail in the facts you set forth, and in the answer you are seeking.

Answer 3

shawshanck redemption right