Bob Ford

[Nikki Forbes]

I'm dropping by to once again, to hopefully remind as many as possible to remember the murder of Bob Ford who died three years ago in Ludington on July 1 at Glenview Apartments where he lived for over 30 years.  The case was reopened at the request of his sister who had information to bring to the police, but oddly, the Ludington police would not involve her to any extent to help bring to justice what her brother deserved, in fact, what any murder case deserves.  The police then prematurely closed the case while the murderer still runs free.  But we're betting Ludington's tourist-tirade is doing well.. well, not as good as it could be, at least not under such auspices of such government-run entities.  Yes, name them, she either went directly or copied correspondence to all governing authorities in Ludington to plead for appropriate intervention.  So, I'm sorry, I didn't get that - did you say the summer tourists are gathering in record numbers this year?      Happy 4th.

[Willy]

I'm guessing the police did not close the case. I think all murder cases are considered open until solved. It's probably been shelved while awaiting new developments. I don't think local police agencies are  knowledgeable enough or properly equipped to solve major cases like murder because they do not happen that often in small towns.

[XLFD]

The case of Robert Ford is an intriguing one.  The death occurred during a time when the LPD detective duties were handled by JB Wells.  His recently liberated ex-wife can probably be a better judge of his character than I can, but by all indications of the three major 'investigations' I am aware of that he played a major part in (Baby Kate, Linyang Zou and Robert Ford) his attention to detail and work product left a lot to be desired. 

I have looked at the police records corresponding to Ford's death and find them troubling in that if we are to believe Wells' "accidental fall" scenario, he would have had to have done quite a bit of activity before he succumbed.  As in the drowning death of Zou and the disappearance of Baby Kate, many of the facts seemed to point away from the official narrative.

[Nikki Forbes]

Yes, thank you, gentlemen for the thoughtful replies.  Actually, there are reasons why LPD initially and immediately closed the case, then reopened the case after Bob's sister showed up asking questions, then prematurely closed the case.. on her.  Yes, LPD messed up by way of initial sloppy negligence, then covered up their slop.  One cover leads to another, and then after awhile, what-the-hey.  And they have had a lot of buddies helping them.  Again, what doesn't God see?  He promises He will make "everything" known - the stuff we refuse to deal with, try to hide... not smart.  I'm not a right-winged conservative, but I do know whose side I want to be on.

I'm not surprised about the wife.  ("recently liberated" - good one)

[AQUAMAN]

Another Ryan Cox type scenario? She really doesn't want him back either from rumors I've heard of recent, and that doesn't surprise me. I thought JB Weld was a bonding chemical for permanent adhesion. 

[XLFD]

JB Weld markets itself as the World's Strongest Bond, whether in the garage, the marina, or at home.  JB Wells allegedly was bonding to too many surfaces and at too many places for his wife's liking, if you know what I mean.  I think he was just too devoted to his job, investigating adultery crime scenes above and beyond the call of duty.

[AQUAMAN]

Why doesn't that surprise me, and with ALL the fixed authority behind his actions. Wells was and still is, a JOKE, when it comes to making good LPD decisions, and has a good friend supporting him from his home town too, that's Barnett, who transferred him over to Lud. to begin with. Pals to the end! And that my friends, is what is called, basically, a "conflict of personal interest"! You Lud. people aren't supposed to know this either, and won't unless you read THE TORCH! 

[Nikki Forbes]

Well, who can say they are an innocent by-stander when it comes to sins, certainly not I.  But c'mon - when you're being paid to keep your city safe (and it DOES start with how you take care of your family, yes?) - but when paid to protect your city from from looming murderers?!?    We're talking murder investigations, here. ....  so, obviously it takes an incredible amount of audacity and/or delusion of one's self and position to carry on as if all's well when you know it's not, as if no one can see, as if no One can see.   At least own up and take action to redeem self.  While owning up hurts up front, it leaves, at least with oneself, some level of respect.  And it sounds like Wells could use a bit of that.  

[XLFD]

Normally, I could care about some Joe Blow being true to his marriage vows, but when it comes to a person in a position of trust it becomes an issue.  Unless his ex-wife is making up stories, this Joe Blow Wells was willing to give up on his marriage and being a respectable and responsible father to his many kids for his own base temptations.  He has also reportedly lost his job as LPD detective, a position I have heard from multiple sources that he himself did not feel comfortable at. 

It becomes meaningful because it translates into the kind of character he is as a police officer.  I want the cops paid with my tax dollars to be married to the truth and faithful to their spouse.   Instead, Wells appears to be loyal only to his loins and his lies.

[AQUAMAN]

Yup, I just recently heard Wells was back on the squad car beat. I agree X, being a father and good spouse takes work, not ego. Truth and humility are a sore lacking quality in all too many in the hierarchy at city hall these days. 

[Nikki Forbes]

Amen.  Surprised to hear Wells was taken off of the invented detective position.  I say, "invented" because in her interview on August 8, 2013, with Wells (Bob Ford's sister's interview) Wells apologetically told her that he was not an actual detective, but just assigned as a fill-in for LPD's purposes.  She assumed it was due to lack of funding for an actual detective, or to even call one in.  Sgt. McMellen (sp?) was the other presiding investigator the night they found his body, spending the following four hours (longer, according to a watchful neighbor) - four hours-plus, figuring out what to do.   

[shinblind]

Not to get the issue off track but this begs a further examination.

Would like to know exactly how long Wells served on the staff of the LPD as a detective and what was his pay grade was during this time?

Wasn't there an issue before about not disclosing pay grades by the LPD in certain FOIA requests. Maybe this has some bearing on why they were so testy. 

[XLFD]

As in the Ford case, if the LPD (and Mason County Sheriff) would actually release more of the records regarding Baby Kate and allowed some smart, well-trained investigators from the FBI to look over the full extent of the case, I bet there would have been a breakthrough.  It's been five years since her disappearance, and the public is as in the dark since the initial trial over four years ago.

Shinblind, my most recent FOIA suit with the city regarded a payroll record where the SSCENT team member's name and number of hours of work were blacked out.  Judge Wadel has yet rendered an opinion, at least one that I've received.  The pay grades were not even part of that record, just the hours worked and overtime attached to names.