WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The man accused of abducting, sexually assaulting and murdering Beverly Wivell over 35 years ago is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
Previous coverage: Man charged in 1989 rape, murder of Washtenaw County woman given $5 million bond
Buster Robbins was charged for the rape and murder of Wivell. She was found dead on the side of the road in Superior Township in September 1989.
According to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, Wivell was sleeping in her vehicle in Canton Township after dropping her son off at school when she was abducted, sexually assaulted, and shot.
Her body was discovered on the side of the road, and her vehicle was later found still running with the driver’s door open and her purse inside.
DNA evidence from a rape kit completed in 1989 was sent for forensic genealogy testing in 2024.
The testing linked the DNA to Robbins of Almont. Prosecutors confirmed that Robbins and Wivell did not know each other.
He is expected to return to court on May 20, 2025, for an appeal hearing.
Related: Man accused in 1989 Washtenaw County murder being looked at for disappearance of Paige Renkoski
Motion hearing on Thursday
During a motion hearing on May 15, 2025, prosecutors said Robbins should not be given bond as he is under investigation for other cases, and child pornography was found on Robbins’ tablet.
Prosecutors believe Robbins is a flight risk based on the fact that Robbins is involved in other ongoing investigations.
Related: Could there be a connection? Livingston County revisits Renkoski and Wivell cold cases
Defense requested Robbins to be out on bond, saying there’s little to no evidence leading to Robbins being connected to Wivell’s murder. The only evidence found leading to Robbins being connected to her murder is that his DNA was found in Wivell. The defense argued that the DNA sample couldn’t determine if it was consensual or not.
“This is a unique scenario,” said the judge.
She said she had considered the evidence prosecutors presented during the motion hearing regarding the other offenses Robbins may face.
The judge decided to give Robbins a $5 million bond. He is required to have a GPS tether and reside with his daughter.
Prosecutors filed an appeal, and the defense has until May 19 to respond.
Wivell’s family was in court on Thursday to hear the outcome of the motion hearing.
“He’s been able to live a life for 35 years, she hasn’t,” said Phyllis Meggison, Wivell‘s niece. “I’m scared he’s gonna get off.”
“I just hope and pray that his daughter, that he’s going to be staying with, has her eyes on her children all of the time,” said Jacqueline Meggison, Wivell‘s half-sister. “We don’t want more babies hurt.”
1989 investigation
Detective Casey Luke with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office testified that on Sept. 18, 1989, deputies were sent to the area of Ford and Gotfredson roads for reports of a woman who had been shot and was found on the side of the road. Luke said investigators later identified the woman as Wivell.
She had been shot with a 45-caliber pistol. Her vehicle was discovered later that night in Canton Township. The vehicle was still running, the driver’s door was open, and her purse was inside.
“There was stuff going on, though she was divorcing my dad at the time, and my grandma wouldn’t let her bring her new boyfriend into the house. So she would stay out in the car with her, but she wasn’t living in her car,” Swanson said.
Luke said she had dropped Swanson off at school at 8:30 a.m. Deputies were called to the scene of the crime at 9:40 a.m.
A witness reported hearing a gunshot and seeing a blue vehicle, similar to a Chrysler New Yorker with a white top, speeding near the scene.
“From what I understand, there’s pretty damning evidence, and that it’s pretty clear certain, but for me, until that guilty verdict is heard, it won’t be done for me,” Swanson said.
DNA tested in January 2024
In January 2024, DNA taken from the rape kit completed on Wivell was sent to Michigan State Police, who sent it in for forensic genealogy testing. The testing led investigators to Robbins.
Investigators conducted several days of surveillance over a period of several weeks on Robbins’ home, where he lives with his wife. On Sept. 24, 2024, investigators collected several items, including used plastic straws, which were sent to the Michigan State Police lab for DNA comparison.
Forensic scientists found that DNA from one of the straws matched the DNA from the rape kit.
Investigators said that Robbins’ wife told them that in 1989, Robbins drove a vehicle that matched the description reported by the witness. They also found a 45-caliber magazine with ammunition in the home while conducting a search warrant.
What happened in court for man arrested in 1989 rape, murder of mother in Washtenaw County
