MI MI - Shelley Speet Mills, 19, Grand Rapids, 15 Sept 1970

[Brotherfudz]

She is mentioned on here in another thread with her connection to a possible serial killer but doesn’t have her own thread. Having been married for only 17 days, Shelley Speet Mills was found murder September 15, 1970. She was found stabbed 32 times and was the first murder that would eventually be called the “Heritage Hill Murders.” This was a string of 7 young women brutally attacked and murdered from 1970-80. In 2008, DNA led police to Lamont Marshall for one of the slayings. Surprisingly, a different suspect was convicted of 2 of the murders in 2010 after confessing, his name Russell Allen Vane. Shelley’s case still remains unsolved.

 

[Jim_M]

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49831574/shelley-gay-mills

 

[Man_in_the_Past]

Lamont Marshall was never officially charged with Shelly's murder. But the MO fit. She was stabbed 30 times in the neck, and the killings did stop once he was arrested.

 

[Richard]

Some Links:

All About This Case: The Murder of Shelley Speet Mills

www.delayedjustice.com/?page_id=1255

1970 Grand Rapids cold case featured in new documentary

 

[jb9672]

wow just read the story and it sounds kind of like Tina Davidsons story. she was stabed 61 times and well to this day they never found her killer or killer's her body was found on the beach on the lake she was killed 3-26-1973 found the next Moring on 3-27-1973 this all happen in Racine wi

 

[Richard]

Shelley Gay (Speet) Mills

Shelley Gay Speet Mills
BIRTH 12 Jun 1951
Holland, Ottawa County, Michigan, USA
DEATH 15 Sep 1970 (aged 19)
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA
BURIAL
Pilgrim Home Cemetery
Holland, Ottawa County, Michigan, USA
PLOT PH3-A-7-2

Shelley Speet Mills was 19 years old and had been married for 17 days when she was stabbed 32 times. Her slaying the morning of Sept. 15, 1970, in her apartment at 314 College NE, was the first in a series of homicides known as The Heritage Hill Murders.

It’s been almost 46 years and police—while they know a lot—still cannot name her killer. It’s not for lack of trying. A new film about the case premiered Sept. 14 at Wealthy Street Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI. The 75-minute film chronicled the crime, investigations, the story of Shelley’s life and her family, and the impact of the crime on her loved ones and the community.

“This was a big undertaking,” said David B. Schock, Ph.D., the film’s producer. “Maybe that’s why it’s taken me ten years to finish this film. Viewers will not only get to see the story unfold, but get to understand when each segment was recorded.”

And though the case is approaching half a century unsolved, that doesn’t mean it’s closed. There is no statute of limitations on murder. “That never tolls,” said Schock. “The reason is because this is the most serious of crimes. And unsolved homicides leave marks on their communities. They represent unfinished business.

“Police officers often say that somebody knows something. I believe that’s true. My goal is to reach out to the one person who can tell police what they need to successfully investigate these old crimes. In this case that might mean that the family and friends will learn who killed Shelley. They have waited a long time.”

In fact, Shelley’s mother, Vesta Speet, went to her grave without knowing who killed her daughter. She died in 2012 at age 94.

She was the first person to talk with me about Shelley’s killing,” said Schock. At the time Schock was teaching at Hope College and was working with students on a murder-related film, what was to become Finding Diane. “Vesta Speet’s daughter-in-law had found ‘Diane’s’ body and we were waiting to interview her. Vesta lived just across the street and came to tell us that her-daughter-in-law was running a little late. And then she asked me ‘Did you know I had a daughter who was murdered?’ I told her I didn’t and then turned around and asked the students if any of them heard a little bell. They hadn’t, but I had.”

Schock of Grand Haven often works with Hamilton videographer Phil Blauw. Together they have made several other murder-related films including Who Killed Janet Chandler?, Jack in the Box, Finding Diane, Murder on the Third Floor: The Killing of Mina Dekker (long-form interviews), Into the Dark: The Murder of Shannon Marie Siders, and Death of a Phoenix: The Eastown Murder of Joel Battaglia.

Police have solved most of the cases the pair have chronicled. Their murder films are emotionally and physically demanding. And expensive to make. “There is no underwriter for this work; it comes out of our back pockets,” Schock said.

But there is motivation: “Murder is a violation of everything I hold true and dear. During the research on this project I was stunned by just how many young women have been murdered in that area over the years. …Not just Shelley and the others identified as victims of a Heritage Hill killer. I think there is a need to tell their stories. I think it’s important that we do not forget these victims and their families.”

LINK:

Shelley Speet Mills

Shelley Gay Speet Mills (1951-1970) - Find A...

Heritage Hill Bride trailer from David Schock on Vimeo.

 

[LodieTed12]

She is mentioned on here in another thread with her connection to a possible serial killer but doesn’t have her own thread. Having been married for only 17 days, Shelley Speet Mills was found murder September 15, 1970. She was found stabbed 32 times and was the first murder that would eventually be called the “Heritage Hill Murders.” This was a string of 7 young women brutally attacked and murdered from 1970-80. In 2008, DNA led police to Lamont Marshall for one of the slayings. Surprisingly, a different suspect was convicted of 2 of the murders in 2010 after confessing, his name Russell Allen Vane. Shelley’s case still remains unsolved.

I just joined this forum. My daughters minor is criminal justice at a local University. One of her new classes requires her to write a report on a serial killer book. She said to me tonight “mom I should write about what happened to you, is there a book”? I believe I was a victim who got away from The Heritage Hill Serial Killer. I lived on College st in a 4 plex in 1980-1982ish. I was 19 & my roommate & I were renting an apt in a 4 plex house. There was a large apt complex next to the house. Worked 2nd shift, we came home, she left to stay at a friends. When I got into bed, I heard someone come down the hall (all wood floors) & then there was a black man standing in my bedroom door with a large knife. He made me get up & told me not to look at him. He led me into the LR & had me disconnect the electronics, like he was going to steal them. Once done, he took me back to my bedroom & he “pig” tied me with a pair of my bib overhauls & an extension cord. Said he wanted money but I also sensed other things would happen & I would be killed before it all ended. Our apartment was long, not wide. My roommates BR was at the back of the apt & I told him she had money hidden back there. He came back twice empty handed & was very angry. I had been able to loosen & remove the overalls tied to my feet & I rolled on my side so he couldn’t see they were off. Lights were off, but the street light was shining in my BR window. He didn’t notice & I told him she had our rent hidden in her room, under her dresser so I would have time to get out if there. Once i heard him in her room, I stood up, removed the cord from my hands & I ran to the front door. He had pushed my couch & loveseat across the room blocking the door. I kicked them as I ran to the door, unlocked it & ran up the stairs & pounded on my friends apt door. The guy followed me upstairs. My friends boyfriend shouted to stop, he was unlocking the door. At that exact moment, the guy was about 3 steps from me with the knife in the air ready to attack me. When he heard Tim’s voice, he turned around & ran back downstairs, into my apt, then out either the window or back door. Police were immediately called. They went to the complex next to my apt first & once in my apt, the guy was gone. Highland Park was right next to us, down a steep embankment. RR tracks ran on side of the park. They searched for him, but couldn’t find him. I firmly feel if they had come directly to my apt, they would have caught him. There were no fingerprints in the apt (he was wearing gloves) & no dna because I had not been raped. Fast forward few years later. I opened the newspaper & on page 2 there was his picture. I froze & freaked out & told my boyfriend that was who the robber was. Then I read the article. At the time, I remember thinking I had not known anything about the killer when my roomate & I live at that apt. We rarely watched TV, didn’t read the paper, we were young & out doing things with our friends. The detective assigned to my case never mentioned anything. He just asked me several times if I had been raped & repeated descriptions about the knife.

 

[Teamir]

I just joined this forum. My daughters minor is criminal justice at a local University. One of her new classes requires her to write a report on a serial killer book. She said to me tonight “mom I should write about what happened to you, is there a book”? I believe I was a victim who got away from The Heritage Hill Serial Killer. I lived on College st in a 4 plex in 1980-1982ish. I was 19 & my roommate & I were renting an apt in a 4 plex house. There was a large apt complex next to the house. Worked 2nd shift, we came home, she left to stay at a friends. When I got into bed, I heard someone come down the hall (all wood floors) & then there was a black man standing in my bedroom door with a large knife. He made me get up & told me not to look at him. He led me into the LR & had me disconnect the electronics, like he was going to steal them. Once done, he took me back to my bedroom & he “pig” tied me with a pair of my bib overhauls & an extension cord. Said he wanted money but I also sensed other things would happen & I would be killed before it all ended. Our apartment was long, not wide. My roommates BR was at the back of the apt & I told him she had money hidden back there. He came back twice empty handed & was very angry. I had been able to loosen & remove the overalls tied to my feet & I rolled on my side so he couldn’t see they were off. Lights were off, but the street light was shining in my BR window. He didn’t notice & I told him she had our rent hidden in her room, under her dresser so I would have time to get out if there. Once i heard him in her room, I stood up, removed the cord from my hands & I ran to the front door. He had pushed my couch & loveseat across the room blocking the door. I kicked them as I ran to the door, unlocked it & ran up the stairs & pounded on my friends apt door. The guy followed me upstairs. My friends boyfriend shouted to stop, he was unlocking the door. At that exact moment, the guy was about 3 steps from me with the knife in the air ready to attack me. When he heard Tim’s voice, he turned around & ran back downstairs, into my apt, then out either the window or back door. Police were immediately called. They went to the complex next to my apt first & once in my apt, the guy was gone. Highland Park was right next to us, down a steep embankment. RR tracks ran on side of the park. They searched for him, but couldn’t find him. I firmly feel if they had come directly to my apt, they would have caught him. There were no fingerprints in the apt (he was wearing gloves) & no dna because I had not been raped. Fast forward few years later. I opened the newspaper & on page 2 there was his picture. I froze & freaked out & told my boyfriend that was who the robber was. Then I read the article. At the time, I remember thinking I had not known anything about the killer when my roomate & I live at that apt. We rarely watched TV, didn’t read the paper, we were young & out doing things with our friends. The detective assigned to my case never mentioned anything. He just asked me several times if I had been raped & repeated descriptions about the knife.

Oh that’s terrifying. Thank goodness you got away.