Witness statements against Collins at this trial:
LINK:
Diana Joan Goshe | Ann Arbor District Library
LINK:
Diana Joan Goshe | Ann Arbor District Library
MI MI - JOHN NORMAN COLLINS Co-Ed Murders 1967-69, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
- Thread starter Richard
- Start date
Close Associates of John Norman Collins: Andrew Manuel and Arne Davis
Did John Norman Collins act alone in the rapes and murders that he is believed to have committed? Or did he have assistance?
It was believed that three men in a car were seen picking up one of the victims on the evening of her death.
Were there multiple signatures, or methods?
Could there have been just a number of copycats or coincidental killers - or was there a group of killers, sometimes working together, and sometimes alone?
----------------------------------
Andrew Manuel, associate of John Norman Collins
under arrest following his flight from Michigan 1969.
Andrew Julian Manuel was born in Salinas, CA on May 13, 1944. He was described as twenty-five years old, 6'1" tall and weighing 235 pounds. He was dark complected with dark hair and eyes, and he had a tattoo of an eagle on his left forearm. Initially, Manuel was described as Mexican-American, but was found to be Filipino-American.
Andrew Manuel was a close friend/associate of Collins. The two stole a camping trailer and drove with it to California, where they lived in it and left it on the property of one of Manuel's relatives.
During their stay in California, it is strongly believed that Collins murdered Roxie Phillips, and on their return to Michigan in July 1969, incriminating evidence was found connecting him to Roxie's murder.
Back in Michigan, Collins abducted and murdered Karen Sue Beineman, age 18. He was seen, identified and arrested.
Following the arrest of Collins, Manuel left town immediately, returning to California to wipe the trailer clean, and then heading to Arizona to hide out at his sister's house.
Returned to Michigan by the FBI, Manuel was given a surprisingly small sentence for theft of the trailer, used as a witness against Collins, and then turned loose. Exactly how much he participated in the murders generally believed to be the work of Collins was never positively determined.
Andrew Julian Manuel died taking his secrets to the grave on Saturday, February 19, 2011, in Yuma Arizona.
-------------------------------------------------------
John Norman Collins (left) and his room mate Arnold "Arne" Davis 1968
Davis always professed innocence and ignorance of Collins' activities. Just how much did he really know, and how involved was he?
LINK:
Fornology.com : Arnie Davis
Did John Norman Collins act alone in the rapes and murders that he is believed to have committed? Or did he have assistance?
It was believed that three men in a car were seen picking up one of the victims on the evening of her death.
Were there multiple signatures, or methods?
Could there have been just a number of copycats or coincidental killers - or was there a group of killers, sometimes working together, and sometimes alone?
----------------------------------
Andrew Manuel, associate of John Norman Collins
under arrest following his flight from Michigan 1969.
Andrew Julian Manuel was born in Salinas, CA on May 13, 1944. He was described as twenty-five years old, 6'1" tall and weighing 235 pounds. He was dark complected with dark hair and eyes, and he had a tattoo of an eagle on his left forearm. Initially, Manuel was described as Mexican-American, but was found to be Filipino-American.
Andrew Manuel was a close friend/associate of Collins. The two stole a camping trailer and drove with it to California, where they lived in it and left it on the property of one of Manuel's relatives.
During their stay in California, it is strongly believed that Collins murdered Roxie Phillips, and on their return to Michigan in July 1969, incriminating evidence was found connecting him to Roxie's murder.
Back in Michigan, Collins abducted and murdered Karen Sue Beineman, age 18. He was seen, identified and arrested.
Following the arrest of Collins, Manuel left town immediately, returning to California to wipe the trailer clean, and then heading to Arizona to hide out at his sister's house.
Returned to Michigan by the FBI, Manuel was given a surprisingly small sentence for theft of the trailer, used as a witness against Collins, and then turned loose. Exactly how much he participated in the murders generally believed to be the work of Collins was never positively determined.
Andrew Julian Manuel died taking his secrets to the grave on Saturday, February 19, 2011, in Yuma Arizona.
-------------------------------------------------------
John Norman Collins (left) and his room mate Arnold "Arne" Davis 1968
Davis always professed innocence and ignorance of Collins' activities. Just how much did he really know, and how involved was he?
LINK:
Fornology.com : Arnie Davis
Last edited:
itsrak
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I just don't buy Scolaro as a perp in Robison family case. Fraudster, yeah. Mass murderer and perv, no. Motive, maybe. But Mr. Robison was himself a perv and a conman, and there were plenty with motive against him.
John Norman Collins, on the other hand,
a) had history of killing, was a serial killer.
b) And a total perv.
c) And knew one of the Robison victims, Richie Robison, had roomed with him!
d) And was an active killer, in Michigan, in this time frame.
e) Was said to have owned a .22 cal.
Wonder how investigators ruled him out...
Some more information on the eyewitness who described and later identified John Norman Collins as the person last seen with Karen Sue Beineman:
LINK:
Wigs by Joan
LINK:
Wigs by Joan
The Victims
John Norman Collins was only brought to trial for the strangulation murder of Karen Sue Beineman (18), which occurred on the afternoon of July 23, 1969. Three eyewitnesses were able to connect Collins and Beineman together on his flashy, stolen blue Triumph motorcycle. Then an avalanche of circumstantial evidence buried John Norman Collins. The lack of a credible alibi also worked heavily against his favor with the jury.
Without a full confession and tangible corroborative evidence, it may never be proven that John Norman Collins was the killer of Mary Fleszar (19), Joan Elspeth Schell (20), Maralynn Skelton (16), Dawn Basom (13), Alice Kalom (23), or Roxie Ann Phillips (17) - the California victim from Milwaukie, Oregon.
Mary Terese Fleszar, 19, of Willis
Body found on Aug. 7, 1967: The Eastern Michigan University accounting student was the first of eight victims whose slayings would terrify Michiganders and a nation in the midst of cultural upheaval. When her brutalized body was found, authorities had to use dental records for identification.
She was the first known victim. She took a walk on July 9, 1967, near Eastern Michigan University’s campus. A month later, her badly decomposing body was found near Geddes and LeForge roads. She had been stabbed. Her feet were cut off. Her clothes were left piled up nearby.
Joan Elspeth Schell, 20, of Plymouth
Body found on July 5, 1968: She was last seen hitchhiking near the EMU student union on June 30, 1968. Days later, her body was found just outside Ann Arbor. Her throat had been stabbed and slashed, and her blue miniskirt was twisted around her neck.
Jane Louise Mixer, 23, of Muskegon
Body found on March 21, 1969: The University of Michigan law student was last seen on March 20, 1969, trying to get a ride home to Muskegon. The next day, her body was found in a Denton cemetery. She had been shot in the head. In 2004, DNA evidence linked her to Gary Leiterman. He was convicted of murder. The case led State Police to re-examine some of the other cases.
Maralynn Skelton, 16, of Romulus
Body found on March 25, 1969: She had been seen hitchhiking near Arborland Shopping Center in Ann Arbor on March 24, 1969. The next day, her body was found near Glazier Way and Earhart.
In 2009, Michigan State Police took new evidence photographs of the contents of her purse. Items included things like lipstick, keys, sunglasses, and a change purse. Along with Skelton’s personal items was a small photo album.
Dawn Louise Basom, 13, of Ypsilanti
Body found on April 16, 1969: She was the youngest victim. Dawn was last seen on April 15, 1969 near EMU. The middle-school student's body was found near Gale and Vreeland roads. She was strangled and her body slashed. Some of her clothing was later found in an abandoned farmhouse.
Alice Elizabeth Kalom, 21, of Portage
Body found on June 9, 1969: She was last seen dancing at a party in Ann Arbor on June 7, 1969. Two days later, her body was found near North Territorial Road and U.S. 23. She was shot in the head and stabbed in the heart. Her clothes had been ripped off and scattered. Her shoes were missing.
Roxie Ann Phillips, 17, from Milwaukie, Oregon
Roxie was visiting a family friend in California for the summer in exchange for babysitting services. On June 30, 1969, Roxie had the misfortune of crossing paths with John Norman Collins in Salinas, California where Collins was "visiting" to escape a narrowing dragnet in Washtenaw County. In many ways, the California case was the strongest of any of the cases against Collins. Extradition was held up so long in Michigan that Governor Ronald Reagan and the Monterey County prosecutor lost interest in the case and waived extradition proceedings. This remains a cold case.
It was known conclusively that Collins had met Roxie Phillips and had driven her to the home where she was staying in Salinas, California. He even went into the house with her and met another resident of the house. Roxie's body was found in a ravine near Carmel on 13 July 1969. Some of her personal items were found in various places along the route 68 roadside.
Roxie Ann Phillips was five feet six inches tall, weighed 130 pounds, hazel eyes, fair skin, shoulder-length coppery blond hair. She was last seen wearing a short red pants dress with small white floral design, matching fabric belt, full sleeves with white cuffs, white collar, white sandals, and carrying a large straw tote bag. When her body was found, she was wearing only the white sandals, and had a portion of her cloth belt wrapped around her neck. A piece of that same cloth was found in Collins' car when he was back in Michigan.
Karen Sue Beineman, 18, of Grand Rapids
Body found on July 26, 1969: She was last seen at a wig shop in Ypsilanti on July 23, 1969. Her naked body was later found in a ravine off Riverside Drive near the Huron River in Ann Arbor Township. She was strangled, and her face was beaten so badly it was unrecognizable. John Norman Collins was convicted of murdering her.
LINKS:
Evidence locker: What police discovered at 7 Michigan murder crime scenes
Fornology.com : "Terror In Ypsilanti" - Who Were the Victims?
John Norman Collins was only brought to trial for the strangulation murder of Karen Sue Beineman (18), which occurred on the afternoon of July 23, 1969. Three eyewitnesses were able to connect Collins and Beineman together on his flashy, stolen blue Triumph motorcycle. Then an avalanche of circumstantial evidence buried John Norman Collins. The lack of a credible alibi also worked heavily against his favor with the jury.
Without a full confession and tangible corroborative evidence, it may never be proven that John Norman Collins was the killer of Mary Fleszar (19), Joan Elspeth Schell (20), Maralynn Skelton (16), Dawn Basom (13), Alice Kalom (23), or Roxie Ann Phillips (17) - the California victim from Milwaukie, Oregon.
Mary Terese Fleszar, 19, of Willis
Body found on Aug. 7, 1967: The Eastern Michigan University accounting student was the first of eight victims whose slayings would terrify Michiganders and a nation in the midst of cultural upheaval. When her brutalized body was found, authorities had to use dental records for identification.
She was the first known victim. She took a walk on July 9, 1967, near Eastern Michigan University’s campus. A month later, her badly decomposing body was found near Geddes and LeForge roads. She had been stabbed. Her feet were cut off. Her clothes were left piled up nearby.
Joan Elspeth Schell, 20, of Plymouth
Body found on July 5, 1968: She was last seen hitchhiking near the EMU student union on June 30, 1968. Days later, her body was found just outside Ann Arbor. Her throat had been stabbed and slashed, and her blue miniskirt was twisted around her neck.
Jane Louise Mixer, 23, of Muskegon
Body found on March 21, 1969: The University of Michigan law student was last seen on March 20, 1969, trying to get a ride home to Muskegon. The next day, her body was found in a Denton cemetery. She had been shot in the head. In 2004, DNA evidence linked her to Gary Leiterman. He was convicted of murder. The case led State Police to re-examine some of the other cases.
Maralynn Skelton, 16, of Romulus
Body found on March 25, 1969: She had been seen hitchhiking near Arborland Shopping Center in Ann Arbor on March 24, 1969. The next day, her body was found near Glazier Way and Earhart.
In 2009, Michigan State Police took new evidence photographs of the contents of her purse. Items included things like lipstick, keys, sunglasses, and a change purse. Along with Skelton’s personal items was a small photo album.
Dawn Louise Basom, 13, of Ypsilanti
Body found on April 16, 1969: She was the youngest victim. Dawn was last seen on April 15, 1969 near EMU. The middle-school student's body was found near Gale and Vreeland roads. She was strangled and her body slashed. Some of her clothing was later found in an abandoned farmhouse.
Alice Elizabeth Kalom, 21, of Portage
Body found on June 9, 1969: She was last seen dancing at a party in Ann Arbor on June 7, 1969. Two days later, her body was found near North Territorial Road and U.S. 23. She was shot in the head and stabbed in the heart. Her clothes had been ripped off and scattered. Her shoes were missing.
Roxie Ann Phillips, 17, from Milwaukie, Oregon
Roxie was visiting a family friend in California for the summer in exchange for babysitting services. On June 30, 1969, Roxie had the misfortune of crossing paths with John Norman Collins in Salinas, California where Collins was "visiting" to escape a narrowing dragnet in Washtenaw County. In many ways, the California case was the strongest of any of the cases against Collins. Extradition was held up so long in Michigan that Governor Ronald Reagan and the Monterey County prosecutor lost interest in the case and waived extradition proceedings. This remains a cold case.
It was known conclusively that Collins had met Roxie Phillips and had driven her to the home where she was staying in Salinas, California. He even went into the house with her and met another resident of the house. Roxie's body was found in a ravine near Carmel on 13 July 1969. Some of her personal items were found in various places along the route 68 roadside.
Roxie Ann Phillips was five feet six inches tall, weighed 130 pounds, hazel eyes, fair skin, shoulder-length coppery blond hair. She was last seen wearing a short red pants dress with small white floral design, matching fabric belt, full sleeves with white cuffs, white collar, white sandals, and carrying a large straw tote bag. When her body was found, she was wearing only the white sandals, and had a portion of her cloth belt wrapped around her neck. A piece of that same cloth was found in Collins' car when he was back in Michigan.
Karen Sue Beineman, 18, of Grand Rapids
Body found on July 26, 1969: She was last seen at a wig shop in Ypsilanti on July 23, 1969. Her naked body was later found in a ravine off Riverside Drive near the Huron River in Ann Arbor Township. She was strangled, and her face was beaten so badly it was unrecognizable. John Norman Collins was convicted of murdering her.
LINKS:
Evidence locker: What police discovered at 7 Michigan murder crime scenes
Fornology.com : "Terror In Ypsilanti" - Who Were the Victims?
Last edited:
In 1969 John Norman Collins was arrested and charged with the murder of and 18 year old co-ed Karen Sue Beineman. California governor and future US president Ronald Reagan wanted Collins extradited from Michigan to California to stand trial for the murder of a 17 year old girl in his state.
Meanwhile, Collins, his family and his attorneys are fighting to keep him out of jail, or if they cannot, they want him extradited to Canada, the country of his birth, where he would have the possibility of parole.
Collins trial leads to the resolution of one murder, but there are six other bodies waiting for justice...
LINK:
Already Gone Podcast – True Crime | Stories of the missing, the murdered, the mysterious and the lost. | Page 3
Winward1
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In case you didn't see this in a thread over in the Zodiac Killer Forum:
You may recall I tied Zodiac/Thoresen to Illinois, where he murdered Valerie Percy, Mike Morrison and Debbie Means. And orchestrated the murder of his brother who was killed there.
As for what follows it may seem like I'm digressing but you’ll see where this is going. Telltale signs of Thoresen’s presence in the Midwest, and indications there’s an ongoing coverup of his crimes caused me to look around the region.
You may recall I argued, in my latest book, that the murders of the Robison family, near Good Hart, Michigan, in 1968 was him. (This should come as no surprise. Others suspected Zodiac for it. But I was able to do it more persuasively as can be done when one has the right suspect and documents.)
So I took a look at the Michigan Murders case. I had read about it years ago but this time was different. The first thing I saw was a mugshot of John Norman Collins. You may know he is in prison—in large part because witnesses identified him as the man seen with a number of victims. A big part of what convicted him, though, was a witness who said he was the suspect she saw on a motorcycle he was riding around with Karen Beineman, the final victim.
But Collins had no prior record and, if I recall correctly, has denied killing anyone, ever. And they only tried him for one case which shows how weak their case was. Compare this with Thoresen’s record.
More important and what was obvious is in the mugshot Collins, in 1969, looks to be about six one—the same height as Thoresen. He also had an athletic build, like Thoresen. And dark hair, like Thoresen. And at least sometimes he parted it on the left side, like Thoresen. What’s more, Thoresen liked motorcycles. I know because I have some of his records. And because there’s a photo of him on one of his bikes in his wife’s book.
There was also another witness who saw the Michigan Murders suspect. She worked in a funeral home and said the guy was a young, good looking, dark haired white guy. Thoresen was 29 at that time. But he was fit and had that somewhat round face the Lake Berryessa witnesses mentioned. Nothing against Collins but, like the young women who saw him at Lake Berryessa said, Thoresen was a good-looking guy. I'd say better looking than Collins.
You may recall he had a red Ferrari. I also know, via a source who knew him, that he rented cars often when he came back to the Midwest. He also had a lot of money. So it would come as no surprise if he owned, and drove, other cars.
I knew that long suspected Michigan Murders victim, Jane Mixer, was slain in March, 1969, after posting her information to her college’s ride-sharing board. People who have studied the case are aware that Sheila Collins, an Iowa State Student, was murdered under eerily similar circumstances in January, 1968. This has intrigued those who have studied both cases as they can’t place John Norman Collins in Iowa.
There’s a simple reason for this. It’s because he didn’t kill Sheila Collins, Thoresen did. And John Norman Collins wasn’t the Michigan Murderer, Thoresen was. That’s right. Thoresen was the Michigan Murderer and Zodiac. You wonder why there’s a coverup?
The first Michigan Murders victim, Mary Fleszar, was seen talking with a man who was in what was described a blue-gray Chevy. The three female witnesses at Lake Berryessa said their suspect (who as described sounds exactly like Thoresen) was driving a silver blue Chevy. I’ve also seen it written that, when last seen alive, Sheila Collins was getting into a blue car.
A Chevy seems like a good car for a rich guy with a kid to be driving when the Ferrari wasn't convenient. And he wouldn’t want to be murdering people while out in the Ferrari unless it was night, as he did. During the day a common vehicle—a Chevy—was ideal.
Some of you may recall another reason it’s thought Collins was the Michigan Murderer is because the murders stopped once he was arrested. But it wasn’t because Collins was in jail. It was because Thoresen was elsewhere—as one would expect, killing.
Less than a month after Collins was arraigned, Thoresen was stabbing the Lake Berryessa victims. Then he had to write more letters. Getting the hood together and playing Zodiac was taking up a lot of time. He paid attention to what was going on regarding his crimes elsewhere. It’s a fair bet he knew Collins had been arrested.
Of course, you may already have realized that he didn't send the first Zodiac letter until the end of July, 1969, because up until then he was too busy murdering in Michigan.
You want to know what he was up to after he killed Stine and before he abducted Johns? Read Zodiac Maniac. You will be glad you did.
Then there’s Gary Leiterman. He was convicted in (2005?) of killing Mixer. That case had some very sketchy aspects to DNA, which is the only thing that convicted him. After possibly being railroaded, Leiterman, sadly, died in jail. Like Collins, he didn’t seem like a likely suspect and it sounds like they dragged his name through the mud.
Was it because Mixer’s case was so similar to that of Sheila Collins? Was it part of the coverup? Would those in the US justice system stoop that low—to knowingly convict an innocent guy for the sole reason of continuing a coverup? As one of the central figures in Watergate said “I fear the worst.”
Back to Collins. His case sounds like a textbook example of overzealous prosecution along with a serious dose of mistaken identity, though it's understandable the pressure was on for an arrest. That said someone call the guy a lawyer. He has a hell of a case.
You may recall I tied Zodiac/Thoresen to Illinois, where he murdered Valerie Percy, Mike Morrison and Debbie Means. And orchestrated the murder of his brother who was killed there.
As for what follows it may seem like I'm digressing but you’ll see where this is going. Telltale signs of Thoresen’s presence in the Midwest, and indications there’s an ongoing coverup of his crimes caused me to look around the region.
You may recall I argued, in my latest book, that the murders of the Robison family, near Good Hart, Michigan, in 1968 was him. (This should come as no surprise. Others suspected Zodiac for it. But I was able to do it more persuasively as can be done when one has the right suspect and documents.)
So I took a look at the Michigan Murders case. I had read about it years ago but this time was different. The first thing I saw was a mugshot of John Norman Collins. You may know he is in prison—in large part because witnesses identified him as the man seen with a number of victims. A big part of what convicted him, though, was a witness who said he was the suspect she saw on a motorcycle he was riding around with Karen Beineman, the final victim.
But Collins had no prior record and, if I recall correctly, has denied killing anyone, ever. And they only tried him for one case which shows how weak their case was. Compare this with Thoresen’s record.
More important and what was obvious is in the mugshot Collins, in 1969, looks to be about six one—the same height as Thoresen. He also had an athletic build, like Thoresen. And dark hair, like Thoresen. And at least sometimes he parted it on the left side, like Thoresen. What’s more, Thoresen liked motorcycles. I know because I have some of his records. And because there’s a photo of him on one of his bikes in his wife’s book.
There was also another witness who saw the Michigan Murders suspect. She worked in a funeral home and said the guy was a young, good looking, dark haired white guy. Thoresen was 29 at that time. But he was fit and had that somewhat round face the Lake Berryessa witnesses mentioned. Nothing against Collins but, like the young women who saw him at Lake Berryessa said, Thoresen was a good-looking guy. I'd say better looking than Collins.
You may recall he had a red Ferrari. I also know, via a source who knew him, that he rented cars often when he came back to the Midwest. He also had a lot of money. So it would come as no surprise if he owned, and drove, other cars.
I knew that long suspected Michigan Murders victim, Jane Mixer, was slain in March, 1969, after posting her information to her college’s ride-sharing board. People who have studied the case are aware that Sheila Collins, an Iowa State Student, was murdered under eerily similar circumstances in January, 1968. This has intrigued those who have studied both cases as they can’t place John Norman Collins in Iowa.
There’s a simple reason for this. It’s because he didn’t kill Sheila Collins, Thoresen did. And John Norman Collins wasn’t the Michigan Murderer, Thoresen was. That’s right. Thoresen was the Michigan Murderer and Zodiac. You wonder why there’s a coverup?
The first Michigan Murders victim, Mary Fleszar, was seen talking with a man who was in what was described a blue-gray Chevy. The three female witnesses at Lake Berryessa said their suspect (who as described sounds exactly like Thoresen) was driving a silver blue Chevy. I’ve also seen it written that, when last seen alive, Sheila Collins was getting into a blue car.
A Chevy seems like a good car for a rich guy with a kid to be driving when the Ferrari wasn't convenient. And he wouldn’t want to be murdering people while out in the Ferrari unless it was night, as he did. During the day a common vehicle—a Chevy—was ideal.
Some of you may recall another reason it’s thought Collins was the Michigan Murderer is because the murders stopped once he was arrested. But it wasn’t because Collins was in jail. It was because Thoresen was elsewhere—as one would expect, killing.
Less than a month after Collins was arraigned, Thoresen was stabbing the Lake Berryessa victims. Then he had to write more letters. Getting the hood together and playing Zodiac was taking up a lot of time. He paid attention to what was going on regarding his crimes elsewhere. It’s a fair bet he knew Collins had been arrested.
Of course, you may already have realized that he didn't send the first Zodiac letter until the end of July, 1969, because up until then he was too busy murdering in Michigan.
You want to know what he was up to after he killed Stine and before he abducted Johns? Read Zodiac Maniac. You will be glad you did.
Then there’s Gary Leiterman. He was convicted in (2005?) of killing Mixer. That case had some very sketchy aspects to DNA, which is the only thing that convicted him. After possibly being railroaded, Leiterman, sadly, died in jail. Like Collins, he didn’t seem like a likely suspect and it sounds like they dragged his name through the mud.
Was it because Mixer’s case was so similar to that of Sheila Collins? Was it part of the coverup? Would those in the US justice system stoop that low—to knowingly convict an innocent guy for the sole reason of continuing a coverup? As one of the central figures in Watergate said “I fear the worst.”
Back to Collins. His case sounds like a textbook example of overzealous prosecution along with a serious dose of mistaken identity, though it's understandable the pressure was on for an arrest. That said someone call the guy a lawyer. He has a hell of a case.
Winward1
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There seems to be no shortage of b.s. in both official and media accounts of Zodiac cases confirmed and suspected. To this I add another. It concerns the case of Michigan Murders victim Karen Beineman.
You already know there are numerous reasons to believe it was William Thoresen, not John Norman Collins, who was the so-called Michigan Murderer (and Zodiac.) According to news stories on the Beineman case, a witness, Mrs. Joan Goshe, originally told police that she believed the motorcycle on which the suspected murderer of Beineman was seen was a Honda 350.
This is interesting as Thoresen’s wife’s book contains this photo of him sitting on his motorcycle. The picture was taken in 1969, the same year as Beineman’s slaying. Wouldn’t you know it, Thoresen's motorcycle was none other than a Honda 350.
With this in mind, consider these two paragraphs from the Michigan Daily’s coverage of Collins’ trial: "On cross examination, Mrs. Goshe admitted that she had lied twice under oath, once in the filing of a marriage license and once at an earlier hearing of the Collins case.
Under sharp questioning by assistant defense counsel Neil Fink she was forced into contradicting a large number of her earlier statements, particularly in regard to the size of Collin’s motorcycle and her relationships with the press and the police.
She told the police that the motorcycle she had seen Collins riding, ‘was like a Honda 320 or 350.’ She attempted to deny this in yesterday’s cross examination. Collins in fact was riding a Triumph Bonneville 650, a motorcycle which bears little resemblance to a Honda 350.”
I don’t know about you, but this appears to be two examples of proof that Thoresen was the Michigan murderer and the prosecution was so eager to convict Collins that they asked at least one witness to commit perjury.
Yet, though it's record, none of this apparently has apparently made it into long form accounts of the case. This witness, who during the trial “was forced into contradicting a large number of her earlier statements” is still cited as a credible witness—including regarding what motorcycle it was the suspect (who she said was Collins) was sitting on.
Wikipedia cites accounts that say Goshe was mistaken. It was a Triumph, not a Honda. But there’s no way this can be accurate and it sounds to me like Goshe lied numerous times, including about what she originally said. Then you have documentation that Thoresen owned a Honda 350 that year. Or course, none of this would make anyone suspecting there was, and continues to be (see Wikipedia) a coverup regarding Thoresen any more confident in the government’s case against Collins.
You already know there are numerous reasons to believe it was William Thoresen, not John Norman Collins, who was the so-called Michigan Murderer (and Zodiac.) According to news stories on the Beineman case, a witness, Mrs. Joan Goshe, originally told police that she believed the motorcycle on which the suspected murderer of Beineman was seen was a Honda 350.
This is interesting as Thoresen’s wife’s book contains this photo of him sitting on his motorcycle. The picture was taken in 1969, the same year as Beineman’s slaying. Wouldn’t you know it, Thoresen's motorcycle was none other than a Honda 350.
With this in mind, consider these two paragraphs from the Michigan Daily’s coverage of Collins’ trial: "On cross examination, Mrs. Goshe admitted that she had lied twice under oath, once in the filing of a marriage license and once at an earlier hearing of the Collins case.
Under sharp questioning by assistant defense counsel Neil Fink she was forced into contradicting a large number of her earlier statements, particularly in regard to the size of Collin’s motorcycle and her relationships with the press and the police.
She told the police that the motorcycle she had seen Collins riding, ‘was like a Honda 320 or 350.’ She attempted to deny this in yesterday’s cross examination. Collins in fact was riding a Triumph Bonneville 650, a motorcycle which bears little resemblance to a Honda 350.”
I don’t know about you, but this appears to be two examples of proof that Thoresen was the Michigan murderer and the prosecution was so eager to convict Collins that they asked at least one witness to commit perjury.
Yet, though it's record, none of this apparently has apparently made it into long form accounts of the case. This witness, who during the trial “was forced into contradicting a large number of her earlier statements” is still cited as a credible witness—including regarding what motorcycle it was the suspect (who she said was Collins) was sitting on.
Wikipedia cites accounts that say Goshe was mistaken. It was a Triumph, not a Honda. But there’s no way this can be accurate and it sounds to me like Goshe lied numerous times, including about what she originally said. Then you have documentation that Thoresen owned a Honda 350 that year. Or course, none of this would make anyone suspecting there was, and continues to be (see Wikipedia) a coverup regarding Thoresen any more confident in the government’s case against Collins.
John Norman Collins was certainly no innocent lamb caught up in a government plot to persecute him. He killed time and again - probably with the assistance of at least two others.
Karen Sue Beineman was his victim whom he murdered in the basement of his brother in law's house while the family was away. He made an effort to clean up the blood, and cover it with paint. Hair from the basement floor was found on Karen's body.
John Norman Collins did have motorcycles - both Triumphs. There was a lot of discussion regarding what the motor cycle he was riding with Karen looked like - and it came out that he changed the mirror and possibly other accessories on it prior to his arrest.
Diana Joan Goshe was the owner of a wig shop in Ypsilanti, Michigan. What got her attention and got her to go out and look at the young man on the motorbike was a remark that Karen Sue Beineman made when she went to her store to pick up a hair piece that she had previously ordered. She said that she had done two strange things that day; one was to purchase a wig and the other was to accept a motorcycle ride from a stranger. This alarmed Mrs. Goshe because there were warnings out about accepting rides from strangers in light of all the recent murders.
Here is a photo of John Norman Collins on his motorcycle.
By the time Karen Sue Beineman was abducted and murdered, the Michigan "Co-Ed" murders was beginning to be known in other parts of the country - but it had been front page news in Michigan for quite a while.
Over a period of about two years, disappearances of young women had been taking place, and their bodies turning up a short time later. There were certain similarities which seemed to connect the murders. A special task force was formed by the Governor. The news media covered it and people were terrified that there was a serial killer in their midst. An ongoing "victim count" was being kept in the papers, and there were a number of other murders being considered as being possibly connected.
Collins and Andrew Manuel, an associate (known to be a partner in burglary crimes) stole a camping trailer in June 1969. They traveled to California, where it is known that Collins murdered a 17 year old girl named Roxie Phillips. Her body was dumped in a manner similar to the Michigan murders, and significantly, a portion of her clothing was found in Collins' Oldsmobile when it was impounded by the Michigan State Police upon his return to Michigan. Blood matching her type was also found in the car. California wanted to prosecute Collins for Roxie's murder, but politics and later funding considerations got in the way.
Unfortunately, DNA evidence was unknown at the time. Had it been available, perhaps Collins would have been more positively linked to some of the other murders he committed.
That said, it is very possible that others assisted Collins by getting rid of evidence, lying to investigators, or at the very least knowing of his activities and keeping silent. They may have actually taken part in some of the murders. It is also quite likely that there were several other killers who were active in Michigan around that same time frame. At least four other murders of women in Michigan were charged to other separate killers.
The question should not be whether Collins is innocent of killing Karen Sue Beineman or Roxie Phillips - but rather, how many others did he kill in Michigan and in other states?
Karen Sue Beineman was his victim whom he murdered in the basement of his brother in law's house while the family was away. He made an effort to clean up the blood, and cover it with paint. Hair from the basement floor was found on Karen's body.
John Norman Collins did have motorcycles - both Triumphs. There was a lot of discussion regarding what the motor cycle he was riding with Karen looked like - and it came out that he changed the mirror and possibly other accessories on it prior to his arrest.
Diana Joan Goshe was the owner of a wig shop in Ypsilanti, Michigan. What got her attention and got her to go out and look at the young man on the motorbike was a remark that Karen Sue Beineman made when she went to her store to pick up a hair piece that she had previously ordered. She said that she had done two strange things that day; one was to purchase a wig and the other was to accept a motorcycle ride from a stranger. This alarmed Mrs. Goshe because there were warnings out about accepting rides from strangers in light of all the recent murders.
Here is a photo of John Norman Collins on his motorcycle.
By the time Karen Sue Beineman was abducted and murdered, the Michigan "Co-Ed" murders was beginning to be known in other parts of the country - but it had been front page news in Michigan for quite a while.
Over a period of about two years, disappearances of young women had been taking place, and their bodies turning up a short time later. There were certain similarities which seemed to connect the murders. A special task force was formed by the Governor. The news media covered it and people were terrified that there was a serial killer in their midst. An ongoing "victim count" was being kept in the papers, and there were a number of other murders being considered as being possibly connected.
Collins and Andrew Manuel, an associate (known to be a partner in burglary crimes) stole a camping trailer in June 1969. They traveled to California, where it is known that Collins murdered a 17 year old girl named Roxie Phillips. Her body was dumped in a manner similar to the Michigan murders, and significantly, a portion of her clothing was found in Collins' Oldsmobile when it was impounded by the Michigan State Police upon his return to Michigan. Blood matching her type was also found in the car. California wanted to prosecute Collins for Roxie's murder, but politics and later funding considerations got in the way.
Unfortunately, DNA evidence was unknown at the time. Had it been available, perhaps Collins would have been more positively linked to some of the other murders he committed.
That said, it is very possible that others assisted Collins by getting rid of evidence, lying to investigators, or at the very least knowing of his activities and keeping silent. They may have actually taken part in some of the murders. It is also quite likely that there were several other killers who were active in Michigan around that same time frame. At least four other murders of women in Michigan were charged to other separate killers.
The question should not be whether Collins is innocent of killing Karen Sue Beineman or Roxie Phillips - but rather, how many others did he kill in Michigan and in other states?
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Winward1
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The star witness against Collins, Diana Goshe, nor the prosecution could not provide a rational explanation for why she told police the guy who rode off with Beineman was riding a Honda 350 but later changed her mind.
Nor does it appear they tried because they couldn’t. Goshe knew neither Collins nor Thoresen, whose basic descriptions are identical. She also wore glasses but was not wearing them that day.
The photo you provided, which I am familiar with, proves Collins’ Triumph said neither Honda nor 350 on it. It also had an engine that was almost twice as big as a Honda 350's engine. Thoresen’s Honda 350 had the word Honda in three places on it and the number 350 in two. These are the two things about the suspect’s motorcycle that Goshe recalled.
Elsewhere, police did statewide searches of vehicle registration records while looking for a suspect or suspects who fit the descriptions provided by witnesses and owned a blue-gray Chevrolet or Honda 350. It appears they came up with nothing.
An explanation for this is the Chevy was registered in CA (where no less than three witnesses described a suspect in the Zodiac case who could not have sounded more like Thoresen and was driving what they said was a silver-blue Chevy with CA plates minutes before the attack at Lake Berressa) and the Honda 350 was registered in AZ as Thoresen’s was (he was renting a house there.) His primary residence was in San Francisco.
Otherwise, it’s on record that an Ann Arbor police sergeant repeatedly harassed a defense witness about statements the witness made regarding where Collins was at the time Beineman was seen by Goshe. That is crazy. So while you’re mentioning who weren’t saints in this case you fail to mention the Ann Arbor cops.
They were far more important to Collins' trial than Andrew Manuel. The documented harassment of a witness makes Goshe’s changing of her story regarding the motorcycle reek of a corrupt prosecution. So does the fact that the judge rejected a change on venue for the Michigan Murders case in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. If this case didn't warrant a change of venue, no case did.
As for photos of guys on motorcycles, I have provided a photo of Thoresen on the exact Honda that Goshe, who by the way admitted to having lied multiple times including once regarding Collins while in court, said the suspect was on.
Another thing that’s on record is Collins was no dummy. He was among the smartest of his peers. It’s not impossible that, if he wanted to pick up a random person with the intention of torturing and murdering them, he would do so in the small town where he lived after transporting them into its city center in broad daylight. But it is not the least bit probable.
Speaking of probability, if you look into the backgrounds of Thoresen and Collins, you’ll find one had a history of assaults, commitments to mental institutions, obsession with guns and knives, was a known bomber and had been a suspect in a dismemberment murder going way back in Chicago. It wasn’t Collins.
That said, Collins’ background seems not to balance with the sadistic, torturing maniac who killed Beineman. FBI documents reveal they believed Thoresen beat and stabbed Valerie Percy to death in her bed near Chicago nine months before Mary Fleszar was murdered.
It is interesting that Collins is widely considered to be a serial killer though he was convicted of but one of the numerous murders it is often said he committed. This indicates the case against him was weak. So does the fact it took the jury three days to reach a verdict.
It also should be noted that, when charged, Collins refused to enter a plea and has consistently denied he killed anyone for a half century. This behavior is not indicative of guilt nor the behavior of serial killers.
As for the circa 1969 science behind the forensic evidence said to prove Collins murdered Beineman in his uncle’s basement it is more pseudo science from the days when paid witnesses would testify to anything a jury might believe.
The smears against Collins made by way of petty thief Andrew Manuel are not relevant and are another reason to believe prosecutors knew they had a weak case. If you like, I can site the news article reporting that Michigan detectives travelled to CA to investigate Collins’ suspected involvement in a murder there. They came back and said there was no connection.
Otherwise, anyone can just say so and so murdered scores of people. Where’s the evidence? It sounds like a truckload of B.S.
Nor does it appear they tried because they couldn’t. Goshe knew neither Collins nor Thoresen, whose basic descriptions are identical. She also wore glasses but was not wearing them that day.
The photo you provided, which I am familiar with, proves Collins’ Triumph said neither Honda nor 350 on it. It also had an engine that was almost twice as big as a Honda 350's engine. Thoresen’s Honda 350 had the word Honda in three places on it and the number 350 in two. These are the two things about the suspect’s motorcycle that Goshe recalled.
Elsewhere, police did statewide searches of vehicle registration records while looking for a suspect or suspects who fit the descriptions provided by witnesses and owned a blue-gray Chevrolet or Honda 350. It appears they came up with nothing.
An explanation for this is the Chevy was registered in CA (where no less than three witnesses described a suspect in the Zodiac case who could not have sounded more like Thoresen and was driving what they said was a silver-blue Chevy with CA plates minutes before the attack at Lake Berressa) and the Honda 350 was registered in AZ as Thoresen’s was (he was renting a house there.) His primary residence was in San Francisco.
Otherwise, it’s on record that an Ann Arbor police sergeant repeatedly harassed a defense witness about statements the witness made regarding where Collins was at the time Beineman was seen by Goshe. That is crazy. So while you’re mentioning who weren’t saints in this case you fail to mention the Ann Arbor cops.
They were far more important to Collins' trial than Andrew Manuel. The documented harassment of a witness makes Goshe’s changing of her story regarding the motorcycle reek of a corrupt prosecution. So does the fact that the judge rejected a change on venue for the Michigan Murders case in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. If this case didn't warrant a change of venue, no case did.
As for photos of guys on motorcycles, I have provided a photo of Thoresen on the exact Honda that Goshe, who by the way admitted to having lied multiple times including once regarding Collins while in court, said the suspect was on.
Another thing that’s on record is Collins was no dummy. He was among the smartest of his peers. It’s not impossible that, if he wanted to pick up a random person with the intention of torturing and murdering them, he would do so in the small town where he lived after transporting them into its city center in broad daylight. But it is not the least bit probable.
Speaking of probability, if you look into the backgrounds of Thoresen and Collins, you’ll find one had a history of assaults, commitments to mental institutions, obsession with guns and knives, was a known bomber and had been a suspect in a dismemberment murder going way back in Chicago. It wasn’t Collins.
That said, Collins’ background seems not to balance with the sadistic, torturing maniac who killed Beineman. FBI documents reveal they believed Thoresen beat and stabbed Valerie Percy to death in her bed near Chicago nine months before Mary Fleszar was murdered.
It is interesting that Collins is widely considered to be a serial killer though he was convicted of but one of the numerous murders it is often said he committed. This indicates the case against him was weak. So does the fact it took the jury three days to reach a verdict.
It also should be noted that, when charged, Collins refused to enter a plea and has consistently denied he killed anyone for a half century. This behavior is not indicative of guilt nor the behavior of serial killers.
As for the circa 1969 science behind the forensic evidence said to prove Collins murdered Beineman in his uncle’s basement it is more pseudo science from the days when paid witnesses would testify to anything a jury might believe.
The smears against Collins made by way of petty thief Andrew Manuel are not relevant and are another reason to believe prosecutors knew they had a weak case. If you like, I can site the news article reporting that Michigan detectives travelled to CA to investigate Collins’ suspected involvement in a murder there. They came back and said there was no connection.
Otherwise, anyone can just say so and so murdered scores of people. Where’s the evidence? It sounds like a truckload of B.S.
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Winward1
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Another thing to keep in mind is it appears, between the time that Goshe told police the motorcycle was a Honda 350, and the time Collins went to trial (and Goshe changed her story) something happened: Thoresen's wife shot him dead.
Then the feds appear to have learned all kinds of things (and held a sham trial for Thoresen's wife) that would appear to have made the FBI look bad, things that would be a direct threat to its director (like they sat on info about Thoresen that implicated him in the murder of a US Senator's daughter, rather than shared it with local authorities, something the FBI was notorious for doing right up to 9/11.) This appears to have resulted not just in a whole lot of brutal murders, but a single maniac terrorizing sizable metro areas of the country simultaneously, talk about pressure to make an arrest.
When one considers what all it looks like Thoresen did, along with a defense witness in Collins' case being harassed, and a star witness inexplicably changing her story, a government plot to prosecute Collins doesn't seem so far fetched.
Then the feds appear to have learned all kinds of things (and held a sham trial for Thoresen's wife) that would appear to have made the FBI look bad, things that would be a direct threat to its director (like they sat on info about Thoresen that implicated him in the murder of a US Senator's daughter, rather than shared it with local authorities, something the FBI was notorious for doing right up to 9/11.) This appears to have resulted not just in a whole lot of brutal murders, but a single maniac terrorizing sizable metro areas of the country simultaneously, talk about pressure to make an arrest.
When one considers what all it looks like Thoresen did, along with a defense witness in Collins' case being harassed, and a star witness inexplicably changing her story, a government plot to prosecute Collins doesn't seem so far fetched.
Winward1
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Also, I'm sure it's not lost on anyone here that the basement which supposedly held the evidence that proved Collins killed Beineman wasn't just anyone's basement. It was a basement in the home a cop.
About the defense witness who reported he was harassed by police regarding what he said about Collins on the day in question, I would put good money on a bet that, if one such witness complained there were others who were harassed into signing accounts they knew were not accurate.
About the defense witness who reported he was harassed by police regarding what he said about Collins on the day in question, I would put good money on a bet that, if one such witness complained there were others who were harassed into signing accounts they knew were not accurate.
Winward1
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If anyone finds any of this interesting, suspicion surrounding Collins' trial and possible justice system manipulation of it, the Michigan Murders is the fourth case I've found reason to believe 1. Thoresen was responsible and 2. there's been an ongoing coverup of it.
Number two makes sense given the colossal number of murders he appears to have committed (he really was hunting humans for sport) when it's clear he was freed, time and again—quite likely due to his wealth/bribery—despite being charged with a number of very serious offenses.
Another reason for the coverup was the fact that he was killed prior to any of this being known by the public. I think anyone would find his story interesting (if not unbelievable.) In case you may want to know more:
www.amazon.com/Zodiac-Maniac-Secret-History-Expanded/dp/0989971570/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Number two makes sense given the colossal number of murders he appears to have committed (he really was hunting humans for sport) when it's clear he was freed, time and again—quite likely due to his wealth/bribery—despite being charged with a number of very serious offenses.
Another reason for the coverup was the fact that he was killed prior to any of this being known by the public. I think anyone would find his story interesting (if not unbelievable.) In case you may want to know more:
www.amazon.com/Zodiac-Maniac-Secret-History-Expanded/dp/0989971570/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
I don't want to diminish Mr. Thoresen's record in any way, but what evidence is there that he was in Ypsilanti, Michigan on the day of Karen Sue Beineman's abduction and murder?
I do not know how Mrs. Goshe came to identify the motorcycle as a Honda 350. Is there any information regarding her expertise in such matters? For instance, did she ride them or have any special experience with them? More likely, she was shown photos of motorcycles by investigators, and she chose one she thought resembled the one she saw.
Here is a side by side comparison of the two types of motorcycles. Note how small the names of the motorcycle are (on the gas tanks).
1968 Honda 350
1968 Triumph
John Norman Collins - what ever else he may be - is a liar. He probably wouldn't know the truth if he stepped in it. But a couple of his lies stand out.
In his letters to a Canadian cousin, he states that Karen Sue Beineman WAS in his brother in law's house with him and his buddy Arne Davis, but that he (Collins) went out for a bit and when he returned, found that Davis had evidently killed Karen.
During an interview, Collins became very agitated and upset when it was suggested that he had killed Dawn Basom, age 13. He claimed that he would never hurt a "baby". Interesting that he was able to make such a distinction or separation between victims based on age. (Like maybe it would be OK to kill older girls or young women.)
It is very possible, in fact likely, that Collins was assisted by or allied with others in the Michigan murders. And it is also a fact that other murders of young women were committed by other killers during his alleged killing activities. But exactly who some of those others were is the question.
Court records, jurisdictional issues, and even evidence questions, notwithstanding, Collins is where he belongs in a Michigan Prison. And it would seem that Thoresen is where he belongs as well.
I do not know how Mrs. Goshe came to identify the motorcycle as a Honda 350. Is there any information regarding her expertise in such matters? For instance, did she ride them or have any special experience with them? More likely, she was shown photos of motorcycles by investigators, and she chose one she thought resembled the one she saw.
Here is a side by side comparison of the two types of motorcycles. Note how small the names of the motorcycle are (on the gas tanks).
1968 Honda 350
1968 Triumph
John Norman Collins - what ever else he may be - is a liar. He probably wouldn't know the truth if he stepped in it. But a couple of his lies stand out.
In his letters to a Canadian cousin, he states that Karen Sue Beineman WAS in his brother in law's house with him and his buddy Arne Davis, but that he (Collins) went out for a bit and when he returned, found that Davis had evidently killed Karen.
During an interview, Collins became very agitated and upset when it was suggested that he had killed Dawn Basom, age 13. He claimed that he would never hurt a "baby". Interesting that he was able to make such a distinction or separation between victims based on age. (Like maybe it would be OK to kill older girls or young women.)
It is very possible, in fact likely, that Collins was assisted by or allied with others in the Michigan murders. And it is also a fact that other murders of young women were committed by other killers during his alleged killing activities. But exactly who some of those others were is the question.
Court records, jurisdictional issues, and even evidence questions, notwithstanding, Collins is where he belongs in a Michigan Prison. And it would seem that Thoresen is where he belongs as well.
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Winward1
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"I do not know how Mrs. Goshe came to identify the motorcycle as a Honda 350."
I do.
She looked at it and it said Honda on the gas tank and rear seat and 350 on the side. This, along with the fact that a statewide search for both the car in Flezar's case and motorcycle in Beineman's case turned up jack squat is proof the killer of both lived out of state. This alone is reason to eliminate Collins.
And there's reason to believe she changed her story (which the prosecution offered no explanation for) because, like the witness at the motorcycle shop who said Collins was there at the time the suspect was seen by Goshe, she was harassed later into changing her story.
Then you have Collins having no priors. If Beineman was a more common homicide, maybe. Otherwise, no, Collins does not fit this crime, no way, very few would. Even if he wanted to commit it, there's no reason to believe he would wait for his victim mid day downtown where everyone could see him. That doesn't add up, either.
Reasons to believe Thoresen was in Ypsilanti that day include:
1. He owned cars and motorcycles (including a Honda 350 with out of state plate.)
2. His basic description was identical to Collins'
3. He stabbed and shot victims (meaning Mixer was him, too. This also explains Sheila Collins' murder.)
4. Evidence and witness statements indicate he was Zodiac (MO was the same. Terrorize Bay Area and Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti by committing a series of random murders there.)
5. Lion's share of Zodiac and Michigan Murders were in '69, yet none overlap.
6. Cops harassing witnesses and witnesses changing their stories in Michigan cases means it can't be believed what the former said about Collins. They were liars.
Thorsen fitting all of these murders and being dead by June, '70 (along with his wife's book which is inexplicable as written and published with the exception of a government plot to protect the butts of many in power) is reason to believe mountains would be moved in order to do so. It's also, but not the only, reason to believe another innocent man went to prison for the Mixer case.
I do.
She looked at it and it said Honda on the gas tank and rear seat and 350 on the side. This, along with the fact that a statewide search for both the car in Flezar's case and motorcycle in Beineman's case turned up jack squat is proof the killer of both lived out of state. This alone is reason to eliminate Collins.
And there's reason to believe she changed her story (which the prosecution offered no explanation for) because, like the witness at the motorcycle shop who said Collins was there at the time the suspect was seen by Goshe, she was harassed later into changing her story.
Then you have Collins having no priors. If Beineman was a more common homicide, maybe. Otherwise, no, Collins does not fit this crime, no way, very few would. Even if he wanted to commit it, there's no reason to believe he would wait for his victim mid day downtown where everyone could see him. That doesn't add up, either.
Reasons to believe Thoresen was in Ypsilanti that day include:
1. He owned cars and motorcycles (including a Honda 350 with out of state plate.)
2. His basic description was identical to Collins'
3. He stabbed and shot victims (meaning Mixer was him, too. This also explains Sheila Collins' murder.)
4. Evidence and witness statements indicate he was Zodiac (MO was the same. Terrorize Bay Area and Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti by committing a series of random murders there.)
5. Lion's share of Zodiac and Michigan Murders were in '69, yet none overlap.
6. Cops harassing witnesses and witnesses changing their stories in Michigan cases means it can't be believed what the former said about Collins. They were liars.
Thorsen fitting all of these murders and being dead by June, '70 (along with his wife's book which is inexplicable as written and published with the exception of a government plot to protect the butts of many in power) is reason to believe mountains would be moved in order to do so. It's also, but not the only, reason to believe another innocent man went to prison for the Mixer case.
Investigators looking into the missing person case of Karen Sue Beineman were told by her room mate that she had left the EMU campus to pick up a hair piece at "Joan's Wig Shop" in Ypsilanti.
Mrs. Goshe (shop owner) and her hair stylist, Ms. Spaulding, were both interviewed by by police. They told of Karen Sue entering the store and picking up her hairpiece, and described accurately how she was dressed that day. They also described the young man waiting outside for her on his motorcycle.
When asked about the motorcycle, Ms. Spaulding stated that it was big and loud, and shiny. It was dark blue with a lot of shiny, polished up chrome. When asked about the make, she said she thought it "looked like" a Honda. No license plate was mentioned.
Both women were later taken to a Honda show room to see if they could pick out the model that most closely resembled the motorcycle they had seen outside the wig shop. Ms. Spaulding could not decide, but Mrs. Goshe pointed out a Honda 450 because it had a square mirror attached to it. This description was passed to the police station, and a search of registrations for such a model was initiated.
More interviews were conducted and a young woman who worked in the Chocolate Shop (next door to the Wig Shop) stated that she had also seen the young man on a motorcycle, which she was 99% sure was a customized Triumph. She also described seeing the man and the girl and stated that both wore tops (shirts) with colored stripes.
Another young woman was interviewed who had been followed by a young man fitting the description, riding a motorcycle the same morning that Karen Sue Beineman accepted a ride to the Wig Shop.
Certainly, investigators were faced with conflicting information. And they were probably frustrated with a number of things related to the investigation. They were under a lot of pressure to solve this series of murders - and quickly, to prevent further murders of girls and young women.
While lawyers could (and did) argue about Collins being identified as the motorcyclist, he was picked out of a police line up by both women of the Wig Shop, and later identified in court.
Collins was charged with the murder of Karen Sue Beineman. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
Collins did appeal his conviction on a number of legal points. It was denied. Here is that decision:
People v. Collins, Michigan Court of Appeals, State Courts, COURT CASE
Winward1
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Where are the original, dated police reports that confirm this? There’s all kinds of evidence that this investigation, and then trial, became corrupted. Not to mention none of this accounts for the fact that a witness who knew Collins stated he was elsewhere at the time and was hassled by police simply for stating this fact. What’s more, it is simply unbelievable that a guy with Collins background committed this crime yet was not charged with any of the others.
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