The night of June 29th, 1986 was a night that changed our lives forever. My mom had a 9:00 appointment at the Poorhouse Saloon in River Rouge, Michigan. We lived in that town at the time. The Poorhouse Saloon was a bar that was known for being a local 'cop' bar.
At approximately 11 pm, I called the bar to see what was taking my mom so long, and if she was still there. They told me she had left..
The next morning, June 30th, my Mom pulled up in a yellow taxi cab wearing hospital scrubs. She was crying and it was obvious she had been beaten. I quickly ran her a bath, and while she was in the bath, I tried to convince her to let me call the River Rouge police. She begged me not to. She was very adamant that she did not want the River Rouge police called..
I knew something was terribly wrong..
It was apx. 2 pm, and my mom said she wanted to go for a walk to get some fresh air. She said she would be back in a little while, and she also said, " Those Bastards will not get away with this!".
When it got to be around 10 or 11 o'clock and my mom hadn't returned, I went to the local police department and told them everything. They took some notes and told me to come back in a week to sign papers and to bring a picture of her with me..
In a weeks time, I returned to the police department and signed the missing persons report..
I called every single day, until finally one of the officers told me I couldn't keep calling every day because they needed time to work on her case..
I did as they requested, and began calling every week, instead of every day. I did this for the first 2 years. They finally told me if they found out anything, they would contact me At this point in time, they were becoming quite rude with me..
I began calling once a month to see if they had any news or leads. Once again, the police officer told me that I had to stop " Bugging" them. I then asked to speak to whoever was in charge of my Mom's case. I was told they weren't sure because the case had been transferred. I knew right there and then I was being jerked around. It then dawned on me what my mother was so adamant about....." Don't call the River Rouge Police"..
At that point, I had hired someone to investigate my Mom's disappearance and to try to find her. However, they kept asking for more and more money. That wasn't working, so I had to resort back to the River Rouge police department..
It was then I began getting very ill, and I had to have over 300 spinal taps, and I was diagnosed with spedo tumor ceberi which is fluid on the brain. During the span of 12 years, I had 34 operations requiring a shunt to be put in my brain. My husband carried on for me when I was unable to..
Finally, they gave the case to Det. Warren and we stayed in touch as much as possible, and as much as I was able to during my illness. Unfortunately, Det. Warren retired..
Last October of 2004, my husband and I went down to the police department and asked to see my Mom's file. When the officer came back, he said to his partner, " That's strange, I found only the jacket that the case was in, but the actual files are missing"..
This same officer began telling me, " Maybe she doesn't want to be found." I told him she might be off her medication and may not know what's going on. I told him previously, I had to put her in the hospital a few times, and his reply to me was, " Maybe she doesn't want anything to do with you * because* you put her in the hospital.".
He started being very rude to me which was totally uncalled for and very unprofessional..
He then went on to say, "I think your Mom came in here and removed the missing report filed on her"..
I asked him if I could see the case, and he rudely replied, " Look, lady, she doesn't want anything to do with you OR your family!".
I knew in my heart that he was lying or covering something. Maybe it was the fact that they never filed her case, or something, but it definitely sounded like a cover up to me..
I called the Wayne County Sheriff's office to try to get some help. I was transferred to Sgt. Larry Crider. I told him everything that had went on, and he said he would gladly take my mom's case. He even went so far as to come to my home to have me fill out the proper paperwork. He gave me both is work and cell phone number and told me to call anytime. He is such a wonderful man. Even though he is a very busy man, he took the time to help me, and we stay in contact at least twice a week..
He was able to get my Mom's case into the NCIC system within a weeks time. I feel like this man is a Godsend, the one I've been praying for..
My fear that it has been such a long time with nothing being done, that it might be too late, but I do have faith and I know there are alot of good people out there helping me now..
Thank God!!.
Debbie (Hall) Smeaton