I have read every post. It prompted me to contact you because of what you were writing. I thought talking to you might help find my brothers muderer. You would now have accurate information from a direct source to add to his story.
You started to write a detailed narrative containing additional information. Information I didn't feel was necessary to disclose, "he was classified as being awol and then declared a deserter" was pertinent to his case. I think giving the dates he disappeared from the hospital were sufficient. He was a decorated Marine found murdered not identified for 43 years..
You then added Besty Aardsma into the his story which I personally did not see any connection to Bobby's case. I passed this info on to the PSP and gave them this link to follow. I think somewhere along the line different opinions started to come into play. Some of the comments obviously bothered me. After he was identified it was recommended a new thread be started and the thread became the cold case of the now identified Cpl Robert Daniel Corriveau, USMC. That was where it belongs now.
You had given me the story of Betsy Aardsma and your theory of it being so similar to Bobby's case. Right down to the weapon type and your opinion of who you thought committed her murder.
I provided all the info contained in his Service Record book. I gave personal detailed information I thought might help the investigators with the case. I had to relive the horrible scene of Bobby being removed from our home. I had nightmares. My normal weight of 110 lbs weight dropped down to 82 lbs in 4 months because I couldn't keep food down. I needed to do this for the sake of my brother in the hope of finding his murderer.
The info you say you provided to the PSP in 2009 was forgotten, buried in a pile. They didn't contact NCIS until 2011.
Because the PSP thought Bobby was a Marine they contacted NCIS. On Octber 11. 2011, I was contacted by the Marine Corp who asked me if I could identify any marks, tattoos healed bullet wounds, and scars for my missing brother Robert Daniel Corriveau.
As far as the dog tags, id, licenses and wallet, they were at my parents house. I saw them. My Mother denied ever having them when she spoke to John. She made me look like a liar. The duffel bag I told John about was in the basement closet, my brother Tom, himself murdered in 2015 backed me up on this bag being there.
So there are two things that upset me in all your repeated posts. The reference of the Betsy Aardsma case, and Haefner as her possible unproven killer. This doesn't belong attached to my brothers case. The second is your repeated narrative of of my brother being awol and a deserter because that is protocol when a military man/woman is missing. You have been told that all of his records have been corrected.
The PSP actually did contact NCIS in late 2009 shortly after I spoke by phone with the case officer, Corporal Patrick Quigley. He was very receptive of my suggestions regarding connections to the Navy and Marine Corps.
The delay you mention occurred at NCIS. It seems to have taken some time before they contacted the Marine Corps. NCIS might have had certain protocols to follow first? Once the Marines got the request, action picked up quickly!
In 2009, the only website to list the "unidentified" case was the Pennsylvania State Police site. The only way to contact them was by phone. I followed up my phone call to CPL Quigley with an email message which was worded exactly like my 15 March 2010 Websleuths post.
I have always been careful to explain that the declaration of desertion is a mandatory and standard administrative procedure followed when a service member has been missing for 30 days. It is NOT a criminal charge or conviction. Because I knew of this long-standing procedure, I knew that there was a possibility of identifying him through that specific Marine Corps unit, but that NCIS should be the agency first contacted by PSP.
It was precisely because of those procedures that the Marine Corps was very quick to identify Robert and to locate and notify you. Again, protocol enters into everything they do.
Tom and John worked very hard to publicize the case and to locate possible witnesses who might provide information and insight. We worked together to comb through old, archived records of the Philadelphia Naval Hospital and found names of patients and staff. Many of them were located and interviewed. They spoke with the Warrant Officer who was in charge of the Marine Corps Admin unit near the hospital, to several Navy Corpsmen, two nurses, and a number of Marines who were patients there in 1968. They also spoke with Marines who served with Robert in various bases and units.
Unfortunately, very little information could be found which would indicate where Robert went or what he did prior to his death. This has led to a lot of speculation. I have theories today, as I did back in 2009, which I try to base on known facts, common sense, and personal experience. We know what the weather was that weekend: cold (between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit) and clear. Since he was gone from the hospital for the weekend, he would need a coat to wear. It is likely that the Pea Coat was one he bought or borrowed to wear.
You say he liked to drink. However, having been hospitalized (and probably medicated) for a month, he probably could not have had many drinks before getting drunk. What other things did he like? What activities, sports, movies, music, etc. did he like? Where would he go on liberty?
There are a number of different colleges in and around Philadelphia which would have had concerts, football games, activities, and parties that he might have visited. The hospital would have had a USO office in or near it which would have put out information about things for service men to do and see. Often, they have discounted ticket sales and even free tickets to hand out. Maybe knowing what they had been suggesting or advertising would provide clues.
For example, there was a live concert by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster on Saturday Night, 16 November 1968. Tickets cost $4. Could Robert have hitched a ride there?