GUILTY MI - April Millsap, 14, Armada, 24 July 2014 #1

[kimi_SFC]

August 19, 2014 at 3:11 pm

Police have person of interest in Armada teen's killing

Ursula Watson/The Detroit News

Port Huron — A 32-year-old man arrested on marijuana charges is a person of interest in the disappearance of an Armada teen whose body was found in a ditch alongside a hiking trail.

James Donald VanCallis was taken into custody last month after the FBI searched a home in Goodells in St. Clair County. He and his father, James Bernard VanCallis, 66, were in St. Clair County Court Tuesday on drug charges related to a pot growing operation at their home...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140819/METRO03/308190100#ixzz3ArxIH5Pi

(snip)

Local 4 has learned that police removed several items, including a dirt bike, clothing, cell phone, hunting gear, bank records, photos and notebooks.

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I hope that the investigation and analysis of these items leads to new charges ASAP.

:justice: for April!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

WDIV had brief update regarding the Person of Interest - James VanCallis - who was in court on another matter earlier today. More details on the items that were found during yesterday's search on newscasts at 5:00 and 6:00 this evening.

 

[tlcya]

I knew it. Dirtbike. I bet his behind was all up and down that trail up to who knows what on that bike. Perfect for coming and going without being bound by roads.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Video included with updated report: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2-charged-with-growing-marijuana-in-wales-township/27614070

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I knew it. Dirtbike. I bet his behind was all up and down that trail up to who knows what on that bike. Perfect for coming and going without being bound by roads.

I have a feeling that April might have seen a drug deal in progress the day that she was murdered. JVC panicked and probably thought that April would rat him out, so he had to kill her to keep her quiet. She wouldn't have necessarily had to say anything to the perp to make him feel vulnerable; just her being there and seeing something going down might have been enough to set the guy off. :moo:

 

[Lovejac]

This is such great news! I'll admit I was losing hope.

 

[tlcya]

I have a feeling that April might have seen a drug deal in progress the day that she was murdered. JVC panicked and probably thought that April would rat him out, so he had to kill her to keep her quiet. She wouldn't have necessarily had to say anything to the perp to make him feel vulnerable; just her being there and seeing something going down might have been enough to set the guy off. :moo:

I too think she may have witnessed a deal or a dispute over a deal. I still cannot help but wonder if the sketch is meant to resemble JVC or another person. Still VERY conscious of the resemblance between the sketch and the RSO who resides in a nearby town who has never been mentioned in press too. Because his resemblance to that sketch is UNCANNY. Wonder if THAT RSO (initials JDM) was a customer of JVC?

 

[Metro Detroit Pride]

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster. I live in mid-Macomb County. Armada is about 14 miles North, Northeast. This case has been the big news maker in Metro Detroit.

I do want to share that this case is trending the right way. I do know somebody who is closely involved in the case and that it is just a matter of time before things are made official. DNA testing of course is pending, and they will also reveal what was found...if anything was indeed found, I haven't been privy to that...during yesterdays search. In regards to the search, I cant specify the items they , looking for, but can say that they will definitely tie and be the smoking gun proving the perpetrator directly to the victim. It will make sense when announced.

Obviously a horrible event, but I am confident based on what was shared, that good news should be coming soon, barring some completely unforseen and out of left field circumstance.

Wish I could say more and I know these kinds of posts can be irritating, but justice appears to be on its way.

 

[Metro Detroit Pride]

I should clarify, I don't know the person closely involved, but I know their close family member. Lots more that even they weren't told about, obviously due to the investigation.

 

[WhoKnowsWhat]

I read somewhere (sorry) recently where April's mom said April said "I'm taking Penny for a walk" and she got a bowl for water and a bottle of water. Maybe that's what was in the backpack and what LE was looking for, to tie POI to April. Just put that POI next to Penny and observe Penny.

 

[tiredblondy]

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster. I live in mid-Macomb County. Armada is about 14 miles North, Northeast. This case has been the big news maker in Metro Detroit.

I do want to share that this case is trending the right way. I do know somebody who is closely involved in the case and that it is just a matter of time before things are made official. DNA testing of course is pending, and they will also reveal what was found...if anything was indeed found, I haven't been privy to that...during yesterdays search. In regards to the search, I cant specify the items they , looking for, but can say that they will definitely tie and be the smoking gun proving the perpetrator directly to the victim. It will make sense when announced.

Obviously a horrible event, but I am confident based on what was shared, that good news should be coming soon, barring some completely unforseen and out of left field circumstance.

Wish I could say more and I know these kinds of posts can be irritating, but justice appears to be on its way.

Thanks for a great first post. I'm glad to know that justice appears to be on its way. Welcome to Websleuths!

:wagon::welcome::welcome6::welcome4:

 

[Metro Detroit Pride]

I do want to point out something about the trail and area. As most who have followed this case likely know, the area is rural, small townish. The trail is long. It begins Southeast of Armada in Richmond. It racks northwest to Armada then meanders down for miles through Northern Macomb and trails West-Southwest towards the mid western part of the county and actually continues into neighboring Oakland County where it becomes known as The Clinton River Trail and actually extends all the way to Pontiac which, as people from the area know and as can be seen on a map, is quite a hike! Many people who even live in the area don't realise the trail basically extends from Richmond all the way to Pontiac. Point is, the trail is obviously long, cutting through rural, secluded areas and crosses into busy suburban areas, but naturally has many hidden nooks and crannies, its a wonder...and a blessing... that something similar hasn't happened before. Despite most of the area the trail covers being relatively safe and family friendly, it is very easy for people with bad intentions or transients up to no good to hop on and off the trail and not be seen. Unfortunately, that is the one drawback for such a nice, peaceful community path.

Its been said a lot, that the trail is regularly used everyday, especially on its stretch through Armada. However, the beginning stretch off of Omo Rd., and West for at least 200-300 yards, is actually quite secluded and tree covered. Its not a place where many people linger IMO and I am not surprised that nobody seen or heard anything. That small stretch of path is pretty isolated relative to other parts.

Just wanted to give everyone an idea of the general area of path.

 

[tlcya]

:wagon: Detroit Metro Pride

Thank you for your local perspective and your encouraging perspective that this case will be solved and the task force seems to be moving toward that.

Glad to have you share your thoughts.

Google maps can only give us so much perspective on the trail and what areas of it may be more screened, secluded from homes so I really appreciate your information about the Omo rd area of the trail. I can imagine that with that area of the trail leaving the more populated area of Armada (after Liberty Lane) it would be much easier for screams or any sounds of a ruckus to carry far enough for people to hear if no one else was in that area of the trail at the moment.

 

[Metro Detroit Pride]

No problem tlcya. As is often the case, there is a lot more happening behind the scenes than we know and/or LE is willing to share. I believe they knew who is behind this pretty fast and its been a case of dotting I's and crossing T's and getting all the evidence in order so that the Prosecution has an airtight case. This case is especially important to get right, due to the age of the victim, the circumstances...minding her own business and walking her dog and...sadly, the specific details of how LE believes she was killed. If in fact true, that really hit me and p!ssed me off when I was told specifics.

 

[Grammy717]

I read somewhere (sorry) recently where April's mom said April said "I'm taking Penny for a walk" and she got a bowl for water and a bottle of water. Maybe that's what was in the backpack and what LE was looking for, to tie POI to April. Just put that POI next to Penny and observe Penny.

WhoKnowsWhat -- YES!!!! Crazy as this sounds (& it is crazy, but I'm a long-time dog owner/lover), I actually thought for a second that LE should let Penny look at a line-up, or even let her see them in person. As many other posters have said, what a shame dogs can't talk, HOWEVER, they sure can SMELL! Then, of course, my common sense took over. That's nuts. But thank you for mentioning that. But on the other hand...

 

[justnosey]

That is some really good thinking about the water bowl and water bottle!! They never did release what items were recovered...if any when she was found. And more about Penny...even if by some chance the perp didn't touch the dog...I am sure that April must have had dog hair on her clothes. Maybe there will be some transfer DNA from Penny?? Another thing... I just read on the Justice for April FB page all of the comments posted with regards to the POI. So many people were commenting that the POI is a registered sex offender, when in fact it's his Dad that is. The owners of the FB page commented that "April was not sexually assulted". Just wanted to add this info.

 

[DMC]

Well it sounds like things are heading in the right direction! So good to hear! Im wondering why the State Police said on channel 7 WDIV that JDV is "a person of interest" and "he is not a suspect" ? That kind of baffled me...

Since JDV lives only 5 miles or so from me I'm still wondering about the County and State Police Visit to the RSO that lives near me and the Police Air Plane that flew over during that visit around 11am they day April was Murdered. Just heard from a neighbor that the Police visited more than the time I observed and that the RSO came home at night and his mom went outside and gave him a pillow and bag of clothes and I have not seen him since and the truck he had been driving before this visit has been parked and hasnt moved. Might be totally unrealated but wouldnt surprise me if he ends up being involved. RSO I am talking about has the initials JMR...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

August 19, 2014 at 9:59 pm

Person of interest in Armada teen's killing jailed on pot charge

Ursula Watson/The Detroit News

Port Huron — A 32-year-old man arrested on marijuana charges is a person of interest in the killing of 14-year-old April Millsap, an Armada teen whose body was found in a ditch along a hiking trail.

James Donald VanCallis was taken into custody last month after the FBI searched a home in Goodells in St. Clair County. He and his father, James Bernard VanCallis, 66, were in St. Clair County District Court Tuesday on drug charges related to a pot-growing operation at their home.

The son “is a person of interest in our investigation in Armada,” Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said after the court proceedings. “We are looking at him.” ...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140819/METRO03/308190100#ixzz3AvvdXKf3

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

‘Person of interest' named in April Millsap murder investigation

By Macomb Daily Staff

Posted: 08/19/14, 9:29 PM EDT | Updated: 37 secs ago

Authorities appear closer to making an arrest in the case of an Armada teen who was brutally murdered last month.
On Monday, a second search warrant was executed at a home on Marquette Street in Goodells, just north of Armada in St. Clair County. The two men who reside at that home were arrested earlier this month on unrelated marijuana charges after the substance was found inside the home during the first raid.

Then Tuesday as James Vancallis, 32, and his 66-year-old father, James Bernard Vancallis, appeared in St. Clair County district court for proceedings related to those charges, one of the members of the multi-jurisdictional task force investigating the murder revealed one of them is being considered in the murder case.

“As part of our ongoing investigation James Vancallis is a person of interest,” Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said Tuesday.

When asked if any of the findings from Monday’s raid helped, Shaw stated the search warrant was sealed, meaning he could not discuss it...

http://www.macombdaily.com/general-...t-named-in-april-millsap-murder-investigation

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

...State Police said on channel 7 WDIV that JDV is "a person of interest" and "he is not a suspect" ? ...

LE and media are hesitant about referring to a "suspect" before it's official. "Person of interest" implies that an individual is under close scrutiny but has not been arrested or charged with a crime. Once an arrest is made, the individual will no longer be a "person of interest" but will be named a "suspect".