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In Episode 2, we look at Hoffa’s rise to becoming the poster boy of The Teamsters Union -- and how it led him to the mob.

By 1976, Detroit’s population had plummeted as residents left for the suburbs in droves. The wealthiest, most exclusive destinations were found in Oakland County, where mothers and fathers always felt comfortable letting their children roam the neighborhood until the street lights came on. Life was great and then suddenly, it wasn’t.

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.

Victims families and the citizens of Oakland County are reeling from the murders of 6 children. But the killer isn't done. In March of 1977, 11 year-old Timmy King goes to the store to buy candy one evening, but he never makes it home. His body is found a week later, just south of the Oakland County line. Timmy was sexually assaulted, just like Mark Stebbins before him. A potential witness spotted Timmy the night he disappeared.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The murders shocked communities around Southeast Michigan. Families started taking precautions, like prohibiting their children from leaving the house.

Before the murder of Timmy King, police and the public couldn't fully connect the dots on the various cases of missing children and murders. All of that changed.

After the murder of Timothy King in 1977, police assembled the lagrest task force in U.S. history at the time. Police knew they had a serial child killer on their hands.

Many other leads have connected the case to several suspects. Could one of them be the Oakland County Child Killer?

The latest season of Local 4's Shattered Podcast series focuses on the unsolved Oakland County Child Killer case.

The latest season of Local 4's Shattered Podcast series focuses on the unsolved Oakland County Child Killer case.