The murders occurred at about 10:30 pm on 3 July 1964 in Milan Park near Emerson school in Northwest Detroit. The area is roughly in the center of the above map.
See link below for a more detailed area of the area:
MI MI - Francis "Pat" Brown, 17, & Sheldon Miller, 14, fatally shot, Detroit, 3 Jul 1964
- Thread starter Richard
- Start date
New Posts
-
TRIAL OF CHAD DAYBELL CHARGED WITH MURDER OF JJ VALLOW, TYLEE RYAN AND TAMMY DAYBELL #3
- Latest: Sheila Terranova
The murders occurred at about 10:30 pm on 3 July 1964 in Milan Park near Emerson school in Northwest Detroit. The area is roughly in the center of the above map.
See link below for a more detailed area of the area:
This unsolved double murder does not appear to be an active "cold case" on any of the lists. It was originally (and probably still is) in the jurisdiction of the Detroit Police. I brought it to the attention of the newly formed Michigan Cold Case investigation group, but have not heard anything regarding any recent efforts to reopen or reinvestigate it.
Pat Brown (17) and his close friend Sheldon Miller (14) were outside in the Milan Park, only a block from their homes at about 10:30 pm the evening of 3 July 1964. They purchased some fire crackers from another youth and were setting them off - as were many other kids that evening.
Some time about 10:30pm, they were gunned down by an unidentified person using a .22 revolver. Their assailant walked away from them about 78 feet, ejected 8 spent shell casings and one live round from the gun's cylinder, reloaded and returned to shoot them again, ensuring that they died by shooting each boy in the head.
Their lifeless bodies were found shortly after midnight on 4 July 1964 by two other boys out walking a dog, who reported the murder to police. An extensive investigation followed involving the entire Detroit Police department. Newspaper coverage was also extensive, until a city-wide newspaper strike occurred.
By the time six months passed, only three Detroit Police detectives were still working on the case. Although hundreds of leads had been followed, witnesses identified and questioned, and evidence gathered and studied, no viable suspects were identified or charged with the murders.
Pat Brown (17) and his close friend Sheldon Miller (14) were outside in the Milan Park, only a block from their homes at about 10:30 pm the evening of 3 July 1964. They purchased some fire crackers from another youth and were setting them off - as were many other kids that evening.
Some time about 10:30pm, they were gunned down by an unidentified person using a .22 revolver. Their assailant walked away from them about 78 feet, ejected 8 spent shell casings and one live round from the gun's cylinder, reloaded and returned to shoot them again, ensuring that they died by shooting each boy in the head.
Their lifeless bodies were found shortly after midnight on 4 July 1964 by two other boys out walking a dog, who reported the murder to police. An extensive investigation followed involving the entire Detroit Police department. Newspaper coverage was also extensive, until a city-wide newspaper strike occurred.
By the time six months passed, only three Detroit Police detectives were still working on the case. Although hundreds of leads had been followed, witnesses identified and questioned, and evidence gathered and studied, no viable suspects were identified or charged with the murders.
In July 2024, this Michigan Cold Case will be 60 years old. It would seem that with all the information available from the many witnesses questioned, that it might still be solved today, yet there is hardly any mention of it anywhere, except on this forum.
It's really a shame. Such a shocking murder in a nice neighborhood during a holiday. Innocent kids out shooting firecrackers in the park.
Detroit PD must be overwhelmed or understaffed. There are a number of cold cases followed here that get no assistance.
This case has always been in the jurisdiction of the Detroit Metropolitan Police. Initially, the entire police force was involved in it, but by five months later, there were only three officers still working it. It was literally "front page news" but shortly after the murders occurred, the Detroit newspapers went on strike and the major papers did not resume publication until 5 months later. After a one-time summary and revisit of the case, it went into obscurity.
The Michigan State Police head a cold case team with a lot of resources, but would need cooperation and a request from the Detroit Police to get involved in this case.
On 3 July 2024, this case will be 60 years old. Hopefully new interest in solving it might be generated.
Last edited:
This cold blooded double murder was likely committed by a sociopath who had no feeling for his victims or their families. He may have committed similar murders before, and certainly after.
It would be interesting to know if the Detroit Police are still investigating it. If not, they should release all their files to other agencies or cold case units.
It would be interesting to know if the Detroit Police are still investigating it. If not, they should release all their files to other agencies or cold case units.