The family of Tim King wishes to thank a number of people in the attempt to identify the suspects in his murder and that of the three other children also identified as victims of the Oakland County Child Killer.
For thirty years our primary source of information was retired Birmingham Chief of Police Donald Studt. As a young officer he was at our house twelve hours a day while Tim was missing. For three decades he followed up on several leads including out-of-state visits. I recall him telling me many years ago that the case would only be solved by a death bed confession. That solution is still a possibility.
Marney Keenan, a retired Detroit News reporter, is writing a book on murders of these children which may be published soon. My Story discusses only Christopher Busch. I understand her book will be broader. Even before July 2007 Keenan met with Studt and me to discuss another suspect who had come to her attention. She was also present on October 11, 2009 when I first discussed my concerns with the Detroit News. Get in line to buy this book when publication occurs.
This Story would not have occurred if Patrick Coffey, a former neighbor and classmate of my son Chris, had not talked to Lawrence Wasser at a convention in Las Vegas (Chapter 19, Exhibit E, 21 and 22). The circumstances of this meeting are similar to a death bed confession. Coffey has flown to Michigan from California at his own expense in response to an investigative subpoena. Coffey testified but Wasser asserted his right to remain silent relying on the lie detector statute. I am not aware of anyone who believes the position of Wasser is valid. If Wasser or any other polygrapher concludes a witness committed murder silence should not be authorized.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has kept me advised and taken action to develop the facts. Her Chief Assistant Prosecutor Robert Moran has been my primary contact. He returns all my calls and has visited Chris and me at my house on four or more occasions. The only reason Wayne County has jurisdiction in the OCCK case is that Tim’s body was found there. Oakland County and Jessica Cooper, the Oakland County Prosecutor, refuse to talk to me. Cooper has instructed her assistants to silence. Thank God that Worthy and Moran do not share Cooper’s views on victim silence.
No one has been as helpful as Cory Williams. When my daughter Cathy decided to report the Coffey-Wasser story she called the police in Livonia where Tim’s body was found (Chapter 19, Exhibit E). In making this phone call Cathy partially relied on favorable comments from Chris and me after meeting Williams in late 2006. Williams retired as a Livonia police officer in 2009 and is now a Wayne County Detective. His follow-up on the Busch lead and several others have occupied a great deal of his time. He has accompanied Moran on the visits to my house and made other visits on his own.
Michigan State police officers Denise Powell and Garry Gray also deserve my thanks. Gray was appointed the leader of the 2005 revitalized Task Force and is now retired. After my October 27, 2009 meeting with the Task Force the Michigan State Police switched allegiance from Wayne County to Oakland County. Powell reestablished contacts with Wayne County (Chapter 57). Powell and Williams recently met with Chris and I to advise us that their search was at a standstill and recommended that we mutually contact the media for a national program requesting information on the killers.
Endless other individuals in law enforcement and the media have devoted time to solve this gruesome case. The King family extends a Thank You to all of you.