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Murder in the Thumb Book Still Raising Eyebrows in Bay City, Mid-Michigan

Death of 17-Year-Old in 1976 Has Weird Psychic Connections, Deaths

November 7, 2009       4 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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Author of the book is Dick Carson, former editor of the Huron Daily Tribune, Bad Axe.
 

A murder case more than 30 years ago is still creating interest in the Bay City and Thumb areas of mid-Michigan.

The case of the murder of a 17-year-old Bay City girl, Robin Adams, who had moved to Caro has so many unique aspects it could have come out of "Tales From the Crypt."

The case involved witchcraft, an Ouija board death prophecy, psychics, and a suspected Satanist who taunted a clergyman.

Author of the book is Dick Carson, former editor of the Huron Daily Tribune, Bad Axe, who spent two decades examining trial transcripts and interviewing more than 200 people in nine states and two prisons.

Veteran Bay City attorney Milton Higgs has reviewed the book and writes: "Aside from the fact that this is gripping story, many in Bay City knew the judges, lawyers, police,court reporters, and others associated with this crime and still remember them.

"Circuit court judges Eugene Penzien, Patrick Joslyn, and Richard Knoblock each had a part in a judicial capacity. Also District Court Judge Richard F. Kern. Penzien was appointed a one man grand jury recommended by Joslyn. The grand jury proceedings were scheduled to begin in June of 1984.

"Penzien issued indictments against Melvin Garza and his sister, Nora. Trial proceedings were held before Judge Knoblock. The prosecuting attorney from the Attorney General's office was Mark Blomer who believed he could convict without a body.

"Before the case came to trial the body was located. It had been concealed in a remote area by the Garzas. Defending Melvin was a Roman Catholic Priest who was also a lawyer, Michael J. Callahan, who at that time was allowed by the Bishop to practice law. Nora was defended by Brady Denton a Saginaw lawyer with considerable trial experience.

"Then Attorney General Frank J. Kelly gave Mark Blumer an assistant AG in his office the go-ahead to prosecute the case, which decision by Kelly was urged by Senator Jim Barcia.

"So there are a lot of connections in the investigation and trial of this case to Bay City and Bay County," Mr. Higgs concluded.

"The appointment of Penzien came in 1984, eight years after the crime, even before finding the body. The first big break in the case occurred in the summer or fall of 1981 when Melvin's sister Nora told her then boyfriend that she was involved in killing Robin and had helped bury her in a pre-dug grave. The boyfriend did not believe her and thought the case closed. He did not go to the police until he did believe it was true. Following a grant of "transactional" immunity she showed the approximate location, but could not pinpoint it which took an agonizing effort and some luck. This is an incredible story and took place in our back yard so to speak. Even knowing before starting the book Melvin would eventually be convicted the suspense is gripping."

This book is about the powerful true story of the life of Robin Adams who was tragically murdered at the age of seventeen, said Carson, a former editorial page editor of the Columbus, OH, Dispatch.

The mystery did not end in the tomb; it was believed that some dark force extracting vengeance for the shame brought on the killer's family because of the way the case was solved.

A psychic began assisting the detective. The psychic predicted that a surprise witness would come forward and identified another suspect who later failed a polygraph test. A break in the case came when the prime suspect's younger sister told a boyfriend that she helped commit the crime. She and her brother were charged with murder.

A Roman Catholic priest represented the ex-boyfriend. The story might have ended after the trial, but it didn't. The sister's boyfriend suffered a series of injuries, which a medium blamed on black magic. Two trial witnesses died a year apart on the same date and several others connected to the case or members of their families were struck by tragedy.

The book details the murder of 17-year-old Robin Adams in 1976. It also chronicles some of the "spooky" happenings that have taken place since the murder.

"It's like a Stephen King novel," he said. "I realized I'm not the writer, I've become one of the characters."

Black magic, psychics, even a Ouija board are spun into this dark tale.

"All I can say is that these things happened to these people and as a reporter, you have to sit back and see if they are connected," he said.

Adams' murder went unsolved for eight years - her body decomposing slowly on nearby state land, near Bliss Road.

The body wasn't located until 1984 when a tip resulted in the arrest of a brother and sister, Melvin and Melba "Nora" Garza of Caro.

Melvin Garza was eventually convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison. He is currently serving his sentence at the Thumb Correctional Facility, Lapeer.

Garza's younger sister, Nora, was arrested and jailed as a suspect in the murder. She later testified in a secret grand jury that her brother had murdered Adams and she had assisted in the disposal of the body.

"While she was being held in jail, police pressured Nora to lead them to the victim's body, which was buried in a remote, wooded area near Caro," Carson wrote in the book.

However, police violated Nora's rights since she had already been granted transactional immunity.

"Transactional immunity is all-inclusive," said Carson. "Melvin Garza might still be at large today if his sister's lawyers had recognized the force of the immunity she was granted."

Nora Garza pleaded no contest to being an accessory to the murder in exchange for dismissal of the murder charges against her.

"Some people say she did it," said Carson. "There was a radio deejay at WKYO (Caro's station) that once dated Nora and said that she told him, "Do you know about Robin Adams? Well, I killed her and I'll kill you."

Nora Garza has since married and moved out of the area, Carson said. However, many members of the Garza family still reside in or have ties to Caro.

Starting in the 1990s, Carson interviewed more than 200 sources for the book, traveling to several states. He says his interest in the murder has continued due to several happenings since.

"After the trial, tragedy struck six families with ties to the case. Was some dark force extracting vengeance for the shame brought on the killer's family?" states the book's subhead on the front cover.

"With a superficial look, this may sound like old news and people may think, 'Carson, what are you doing digging into this?'" said the 70-year-old author, who now resides in Ohio. "But there are too many people dying here... it's too weird."

The first 75 pages of the book can be read on the publishing company's Web site, www.marquettebooks.com. The book can also be purchased for $29.95 at www.barnesandnoble.com.

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

rolltothemiss Says:       On July 06, 2015 at 10:08 PM
I was happy to have a new friend in Robin Adams. Her mother Vera & my mother Neva were friends before & long after Robins death by murder. Our new found fledgling friendship ended abruptly without warning. Rebecca Dycus.
rolltothemiss Says:       On March 20, 2016 at 09:17 PM
Robins mother & my mother remained close friends the many tears after Robins disappearance/death by murder. Robin, i know you were loved sincerely!
Agree? or Disagree?


Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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