In the next few weeks, I will be posting some of the transcripts of the trial of Sean Phillips, and welcome any additional commentary on the subject at hand for that in the proper thread.  The first entry is from the second week of the trial, testimony about what information Sean's cell phone gave us. 

WMOM reports this morning that there is to be a grand jury proceeding dealing with the Baby Kate disappearance very soon, perhaps to decide whether there is enough evidence as to whether to go after Sean Phillips for murder.  This earlier phone message conveyed the impression that the jury's motive was to do just that (sender's name has been redacted).

One could believe that this procedure is happening today, if the info is accurate.

Interesting goings-on since yesterday's announcement.  WOOD TV's Leon Hendrix, who covered the Baby Kate trial and other coverage impressively, was apparently told there was no grand jury proceedings happening, and WMOM's news was shortly thereafter went down late yesterday afternoon. 

Today, the other local news radio station West MI News 98 reports on Facebook and on air:  "It looks like the murder investigation into Katherine Phillips' death is heating up. Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola has summoned several people involved in the "Baby Kate" case, and had them testify before a grand jury at the courthouse. No formal murder charge has yet been filed against the baby's father, Sean Phillips, who's serving time for unlawful imprisonment of the infant. Police plan to conduct a large search for Baby Kate at the end of June."

Let's remember:  public officials have the right to keep a grand jury proceeding secret, however, putting erroneous information out to the public is not part of their official duties and should be dealt with harshly if this has occurred. 

The 79th District Court preliminary examination of Sean Michael Phillips will resume July 31 at 9 a.m. at the Mason County Courthouse.

 Sean Phillips — who is serving 10-15 years in prison for unlawfully imprisoning his then 4-month-old daughter Katherine “Kate” Shelbie-Elizabeth Phillips in June 2011 — lost his Michigan Supreme Court appeal of his sentence.

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Phillips’ leave to appeal was denied “because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.”

By failing to review Phillips’ appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the Michigan Court of Appeals’ Dec. 17, 2013 ruling that the appeal should be denied.

That ensures that Phillips will serve at least 10 years in prison — or until June 2021 at the earliest.

Unfortunately, a rather involved weekend had me not able to get in front of the computer to commemorate properly the three year anniversary of the disappearance of Baby Kate.  That doesn't mean we have given up on looking out for her here, and maintain our commitment to finding the truth leading to the trail of this missing baby. 

Unlike our local authorities, we still have the hope of finding her alive and well, barring any credible evidence to the contrary.

The preliminary hearing for Sean Phillips continues tomorrow at 9 AM in Judge Peter Wadel's District Court.  The Ludington Torch will be there to get the latest firsthand.

 On July 31st, Judge Peter Wadel said he would be giving us a decision within two weeks on whether to allow a murder trial in circuit court for Sean Phillips.  Whether it was two actual weeks or two business weeks, that time period would be up at the end of August 13.  It is now September 15, 33 days after that self-imposed deadline.  'Thumb's up' or 'thumb's down', not 'thumbs up your butt', Peter.

Well I don't believe Sean did this like I said before, i think some  one is trying to frame him 1. because their is no body, for proof. 2. what would be his reason for killing his own kid, he took care of his kid and made sure the kid was clean, clean diapers on, washed the baby up, (where was the mother all these times). 3.Why was it so important to the mother to get read of the kid? (I'd BE PUTTING HER ON THE STAND MORE),It sounds like to me the mother wasn't much of a mother she wasn't their often enough to take care of her own, and look at her now shes running around with a NEW GUY in her life that shes had for awhile, what's up with that? Something just doesn't make since and I think Sean is in prison for another persons doings!!!!

Most people will look at you funny for making such a statement about Sean, wildfire, but I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibilities.  The way the authorities are sitting on the information just invites such speculation.  Well into the fourth year of this crime, the authorities are still keeping many relevant records from the public claiming they are either part of an active investigation or that they could somehow taint the jury pool. 

I find it hard, however, to fault Ariel for running around with a new guy or make any suppositions about that, because after all, it has been nearly four years and even if she is only a grieving mother and not a scheming accomplice to murder/kidnapping, her life must go on.

For the optimistic, be sure to wish Baby Kate a Happy Fourth Birthday, wherever she may be, and lift a toast to her well-being with your favorite beverage.

Please also remember and keep in your prayers the family and friends of Darius Vanbrook the 12 year old who was hit by a corrections officer driving home on this date exactly three years ago today.  The Ludington Torch once again wants to extend their deepest sympathies and condolences especially to his mother, Serene Poyer. 

the "narrowed down location" of search area (per law enforcement) has not yielded the desired results;i.e.-physical evidence. Having located Carex Atlantica/prickley bog sedge while performing an independent search last summer, leads me to believe that if supplied with similar information as provided to those selected to the botanical search team, which I was not selected to be on, that I, at the least, increase the possibility of locating an infant that needs to be....brought home. Because of my desire to help I will continue to search, regardless....even after being officially informed that further searches or documentation are not necessary at this point. Encouragement to continue is not necessary but pertinent information will be invaluable. 

I'm glad to see you take an interest Raymond, but be advised, that the soil and botanical evidence they got from the bottom of the shoe was not only downplayed in significance quite a bit by the defense in the April 2012 trial, when all three expert witnesses said that not only was the soil and plants could be found in many different locations, but could also have been picked up over a long period of time. 

After the trial, I was able to view the hospital footage where he was wearing one pair of shoes, different shoes than what he wore when he was being questioned that day, and different shoes than what the detectives believe he wore outside that day when disposing of Baby Kate. 

We thus have to believe that Phillips brought an extra pair of shoes with him that day, put the second pair on after getting his DNA test and supposedly abducted Kate, then came home, and changed out of these shoes again, but did not bother getting rid of other more damning evidence like the baby paraphernalia in his car and pants. 

What is also left out in the official version is that the same soil, climate, and wetland vegetation they were looking for exists right around Sean's house.  The shoe evidence is awfully sketchy in my opinion, and was only developed by law enforcement six months after Kate's disappearance. 

The botanical search in the summer of 2013 up around Modjeski Road was not a useful exercise, which the organizers were well aware of.  I believe it was only commenced to make it appear that they were doing something useful, but were only trying to help their chances for a murder charge by being able to claim they narrowed down the area where Kate could be, and making Sean the only possible suspect. 

If you're like me, Raymond and try to FOIA MSU or the police forces involved, they will not give you anything of value, claiming exemptions of things which shouldn't be exempt from disclosure, which should raise a red flag.  I would be thankful if you can help getting this solved, because the police from what I have seen, have a bunch of preconceived notions that violate common sense, yet they do not want to broaden their scope because they've already got someone in prison for many years.

not having privileged information makes any attempt to help difficult. My previous research confirms that you are correct concerning the environmental conditions at his residence. Any possibility of success, an effort to make an attempt, led me to accessible public lands, which included the area of Modjeski Road. The seclusion, the remoteness of the area, along with the phrase "a peaceful place", if it was a true sentiment, makes it a worthy attempt. I'll keep trying.

This just in:  Sean Phillips will stand trial for the murder of Baby Kate the Michigan Appeals Court declares in a 9-page ruling:  http://woodtv.com/2015/10/23/judges-sean-phillips-will-stand-trial-...

One can only imagine what Judge Wadel (who will now see the murder trial come back to him, after not binding it over) thinks of the Mi App Court's decision which ends thusly:

"Accordingly, taking those facts together, a jury could reasonably infer that defendant wanted to hide his involvement in Kate’s death because she had died as the result of criminal agency.  Thus, in this case, there is sufficient evidence to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that Kate died as a result of criminal agency.  As such, the district court abused its discretion by refusing to bind defendant over on the charge of open murder. (“A trial court necessarily abuses its discretion when it makes an error of law.”). The circuit court properly reversed the district court and reinstated the charge against defendant."