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Oakland County Child Killer victim's family files $100 million lawsuit against prosecutor, investigators

Family of Kristine Mihelich claims case was mishandled, ruining opportunity...

DETROIT – Decades after sending shockwaves through metro Detroit, the Oakland County Child Killer case is still open and making headlines again.

The family of one of the victims has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the Oakland County prosecutor, sheriff and several investigators.

Children kidnapped, killed

At least four children from Oakland County were kidnapped and found dead between 1976 and 1977.

Mark Stebbins, 12, Jill Robinson, 12, Kristine Mihelich, 10, and Timothy King, 11, all are called victims of the killer.

Watch: Oakland County Child Killer victim's family files lawsuit
Watch: Legal experts call lawsuit flawed

Mihelich family says investigators withheld information

The family of Kristine Mihelich says the case was mishandled so badly that they feel any hope of learning their daughter's killer is lost.

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"The system has not only failed Kris but has failed all the victims of the monster that took our kids," said Mihelich's mother, Deborah Jarvis. "It's time for Jessica Cooper to step aside and let the Department of Justice investigate these cases."

Cooper is Oakland County's prosecutor.

Family attorney Paul Hughes said he has a confidential informant who met with police but was not taken seriously.

"We're also asking that the case be taken away from Oakland County, be taken away from Michigan State Police because of what we feel is either gross mismanagement or a cover-up," Hughes said.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said he would do everything he can to help the family solve the murder.

"I feel nothing but huge sympathy for the family," Bouchard said. "I would anything I possibly could do to help solve this crime."

Dr. Isaih McKinnon is mentioned in the lawsuit. Two years ago, McKinnon put authorities in touch with a mystery man who knew a lot about the Oakland County Child Killer case.

"After this meeting he stopped calling," McKinnon said. "Maybe we lost a person who had a great deal of information."

More: Oakland County Child Killer special section

 

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