The latest season of Local 4's Shattered Podcast series focuses on the unsolved Oakland County Child Killer case.
In Season 3 of Shattered, host Jeremy Allen is back to tell the story of a string of murders that took place in the mid-1970s in Oakland County, Michigan.
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All eight episodes are now available:
Season 3 – Episode 1
Detroit in the 1970’s - a city of industry. A place known for toughness and grit saw many of its workers flee for the suburbs at quitting time. That was supposed to be their safe space. A place to escape the danger and crime of the city. So people moved to places like Oakland County to get away. They found their safe space and built a world around it. Mothers and fathers felt comfortable letting their children roam the neighborhood until the street lights came on.
Life was great and then suddenly, it wasn't.
Season 3 - Episdoe 2
January 1977: five children have been murdered in or near Oakland County in the last year, and now a sixth, Kristine Mihelich, has been abducted. Investigators are seeing similarities in the cases and begin to pursue the possibility of a single killer.
Season 3 - Episode 3
Oakland County families are living in terror after three children have been abducted and murdered. The killer is becoming bolder - the most recent vistim, Kristine Mihelich, was discovered after being missing for 19 days. Tensions are at an all-time high. But the killer isn’t done.
Season 3 - Episode 4
The discovery of Timothy King’s body cements suspicions of a serial killer. The lives of the victims’ families are shattered. Police from across the region mobilize in a way never seen before. They have a few leads and suspects, and begin searching for familiar criminals and new faces suspected of involvement in the slaying of these young children.
Season 3 - Episode 5
Francis Shelden was a Millionaire from Ann Arbor. He came from a well-to-do family with ties to presidents, governors and even princes. He earned his B.A from Yale and served in the Michigan Air Guard. He had his own company, his own plane, and his own island. He also operated his own pedophole ring.
Season 3 - Episode 6
Frank Shelden and Gerald Richards have just returned to the mainland after taking four boys from St. Joe’s Catholic school to North Fox Island for a three day trip. Michael Dunsmore, Bill Johnson and two other boys were put through horrible, unforgettable, life-altering experiences. One of the two unnamed boys tells his mother a harrowing story about being sexually assaulted by Shelden in a cabin on the island. The boys mother calls the police to relay the story.
Season 3 - Episode 7
The police and task force are in full gear, searching through mounds of information. Dr. Bruce Danto enters the picture offering theories and helping to profile the killer(s). On April 4th, 1977 a man calling himself, Allen sends Dr. Danto a letter, claiming he is the roommate of the Oakland County Child Killer. Eventually Allen would setup a meeting with Dr. Danto.
Season 3 - Episode 8
Almost half a century has passed and the families of Timothy King, Kristine Mihelich, Jill Robinson and Mark Stebbins are left without answers. The families demand more from the authorities. The police and prosecutors say there’s nothing more to give. Is the person responsible still out there? Did the killer die? Is there a massive coverup? The families share their theories.