Identity of Disc Golf Death is James Walkley

[XLFD]

You have likely heard of the 28 year old man who was found dead at the Ludington Area School District forest on the disc golf course Sunday evening, where Sheriff Kim Cole said that he does not believe that there are any public safety concerns with what he is calling a “suspicious” d....  The riddle was made larger with an enigmatic search done this afternoon for nothing specified.

 

Undoubtedly, the person that died was well known to the Mason County Sheriff's Office and the Ludington Police Department, as the decedent, James Walkley, pictured left, has been arrested numerous times in the county for drug offenses.  

While it may be a good guess that Walkley may have been instrumental in the cause of his death, due to his chosen lifestyle, it has been the ridiculous withholding of information by the police that has made this incident grow into something more than it should have.  For over a day, the public has been told that the death was suspicious, yet they should not be concerned.  They have not been given a reason why they shouldn't be concerned for what was dubbed the "disc golf death", or for whatever reason the police are not releasing the guy's name.  

When the public is not given pieces of information that would be logical to disseminate by those pledged to protect and serve, they may begin to panic or just as bad, be apathetic when danger is still afoot.  Here, if they wanted some time to contact the next of kin, that's understandable, but this could have been done that evening, and the sheriff could have described why he thought the death was suspicious by explaining that the cause was probably a drug overdose, for example, either later that night or early the next morning.  Tonight the COLDNews posted his death, without specifying anything (James Walkley obituary)

In Walkley's immediate sphere of influence into drug culture, it very easily could have been someone who wanted him dead for some real or perceived slight or debt.  If this looked more to be the case, why wasn't this broadcast to the public so they could take proper precautions?  It could have even been a police bust that had Walkley shot by the very fellows covering up the death over a day later.

Keeping the public out of the loop in unexplained deaths that happen around town, make the police officials look complicit in the crime.  The public has a right to be immediately and reasonably informed in such instances of the relevant information that could protect their families.

[John Doe Jr]

It is not a secret that James has passed.

Please open your eyes and hearts.

I would like to take this time to challenge all of you to "HELP" with your support and kindness to this Go Fund Me account that was set up by Tabatha Robbins for the benefit of James. No matter where your personal feelings lay please open your heart for one kind moment.

https://www.gofundme.com/qdfgknp8

God Bless us All...

[XLFD]

Failing Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole released a statement today (as related in the Mason County Press) where he attempted to vilify this website and this humble reporter doing his job:  

“With that said, there was at least one local blog, the Ludington Torch, that felt it was necessary to release the name of the victim prematurely and try to convince its readers that there was a cover up on behalf of law enforcement. I believe that was an irresponsible action on the part of the blog’s administrator and most likely hindered the investigation and our efforts to fight the local drug problem, and that’s a real shame.”

It should be noted, there was nothing to be gained in keeping the name secret more than twelve hours after the deceased relatives were already notified and spreading that information on Facebook, and mere minutes after the COLDNews printed a brief obituary about Walkley, leaving out that he was the one who died at the golf course.  The sheriff in his full press release still fails to answer questions that should be addressed at this time, and shows not only his incompetence but his vindictiveness in attacking this website and real journalism.  It is shameful that our other local media never challenge this man's methods, and his willful cover-up of public need-to-know information. 

The sheriff nor any other official has not the power to arbitrarily withhold public information from the people, nor arbitrarily tell the media what, and what not to, report.

[Willy]

Sheriff Cole, was there any signs of a violence involved with Walkley's death? If so, is this a murder investigation? If so then the public has a right to know that big city violence is at Ludington's door step. If no signs of violence was determined then why hasn't all the information been released. For all anyone knows Walkley could have died from a heart attack due to his past history of drug use. The Sheriff is acting in an irresponsible manner by withholding pertinent information. Blaming the only source of true information available in Mason County for requesting the facts is also extremely irresponsible. I've really never criticized the Sheriff in a vigorous way because I know he has a difficult job dealing with criminals, the public, the media and politicians but to point the finger at this forum and use it as a scapegoat for his lack of transparency is not helping his image.

[AQUAMAN]

Wow, now over 5,000 views on this, and we still have a Sheriff who's going to continue being a narcissist and rude with facts and the truth to our public. Can anyone still support such an individual? One who puts his own self above what's above the real law into effect to have his way and deny his own deficiencies in office? I just wonder, what makes a man like this tick, and become sober with reality? How does someone like this sleep at night? Yes Cole, keep up the great work, and keep chasing that car, the one you'll never catch.

[XLFD]

Sadly, just a few years back we had Sheriff Jeff Fiers being an actual leader of that office.  Yeah, he had to deal with a poorly trained Sergeant Cole repeatedly violating the civil rights of a former county commissioner, a poorly trained group of road patrol deputies under the direction of Sergeant Cole when they tased and beat up Joe McAdam an innocent passenger during a traffic stop and an innocent patient chained to a hospital bed, but he never actively supported the wrongdoing.  Sheriff Cole got his job by overlooking those transgressions and fully supporting his and his charges offenses.

[John Doe Jr]

Got that right'

And, all the while hiding behind God...

[AQUAMAN]

Now over 6,000 views, wowser. Thanks to those that know right from wrong, posted free rehab location, and Gofund link, and support freedom of the press in it's rightful form. Autopsy needs public's attention too, for real safety's sake, thanks.

[shinblind]

Investigation?!?!?! Looks more like Sheriff Kim Cole is having another of his, "Round up the usual suspects." moments.

[Willy]