MI MI - Richard 42, & Shirley Robison 40, & 4 children, Good Hart, 25 Jun 1968

[Melquiades]

I think that, although there is much to support the inditement of Scolaro, there would have been plenty of "doubt" for the defense to have introduced in a trial, had Scolaro not committed suicide before one could be held.

The prosecution would have had to place him at the scene of the crime with some sort of positive forensic evidence, which would have been difficult to do. There were no fingerprints of his there, nobody saw him there, no gas receipts or phone records place him in the vicinity, etc. And any time line would have to fit to times when he was known to be elsewhere.

And the ballistic report could not conclusively determine, by rules of evidence, that Scolaro owned or fired the guns used in the crime. That does not mean that they couldn't attempt to introduce the reports as evidence, but there would certainly be questions and doubts raised because it would basically be only circumstantial evidence at best: The guns used were caliber .22 and .25 and Scolaro might have owned such weapons at some time, but they were unavailable for testing to be conclusively linked to the murders. The .22 caliber shell casings found at the scene reportedly matched some found on a public shooting range where Scolaro had done some target practice - but that is not proof that they were fired from his gun.

You are perhaps correct to state that this was a personal crime, but it could also be a very "impersonal" one committed by someone who was completely sociopathic. Thus the consideration of other potential suspects. Where is the evidence that Scolaro had ever committed such a horrendous act before or after? On the other hand, John Norman Collins was a budding serial killer who HAD likely committed other murder(s) before and after the murder of this entire family - and for no apparent reason other than his own love of killing. Collins certainly has never had any empathy for any of his victims. Collins was a burglar who broke into homes, he attacked female victims viscously by bludgeoning, shooting, stabbing, and strangulation. His known victims had clothing removed or cut from their bodies and often were mutilated badly. As to firearms - he did own a .22 pistol as well as other firearms that he had stolen. He also had associates or partners in some of his crimes.

However, as with Scolaro, placing Collins (or any other potential suspect) at the scene of the Robison family murders would be a difficult but necessary task for any prosecution.

Again : the ballistics/firearms evidence is absolutely overwhelming here and leaves zero doubt in my mind who the guilty party is. They were able to match spent shells at the scene with spent shells known to have come from Scolaro's gun. Some of the ammo used in the killing was extremely rare but known to have been bought by Scolaro. He owned both types of guns used before mysteriously 'giving them away' right around the time of the killings.

Whether a jury would have convicted I have no idea, but this is the guy, and there's a reason he was about to be charged when he killed himself.

There is nothing to link Collins to the case at all, his MO is entirely different, and there is zero explanation for how the firearms evidence could have been connected to him. He didn't do it.

This is the definition of an Occam's Razor case. The simplest explanation is the correct one, and the prime suspect with motive/means/opportunity and a mountain of evidence pointing at him is the guy who did it, not the freaking Zodiac or something.

 

[Richard]

Again : the ballistics/firearms evidence is absolutely overwhelming here and leaves zero doubt in my mind who the guilty party is. They were able to match spent shells at the scene with spent shells known to have come from Scolaro's gun. Some of the ammo used in the killing was extremely rare but known to have been bought by Scolaro. He owned both types of guns used before mysteriously 'giving them away' right around the time of the killings.

Whether a jury would have convicted I have no idea, but this is the guy, and there's a reason he was about to be charged when he killed himself.

There is nothing to link Collins to the case at all, his MO is entirely different, and there is zero explanation for how the firearms evidence could have been connected to him. He didn't do it.

This is the definition of an Occam's Razor case. The simplest explanation is the correct one, and the prime suspect with motive/means/opportunity and a mountain of evidence pointing at him is the guy who did it, not the freaking Zodiac or something.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and you have the right to express it here.

However, you need to make it clear that it is your OPINION that ballistics point to Scolaro rather than that those tests "prove" his guilt. The ballistics tests did NOT prove that the bullets came from Scolaro's gun or from a gun owned by or linked to any other possible suspect. Saying that the shell casings matched other shell casings found at a public shooting range where numerous people shoot and that Scolaro might have also fired his gun there does not link him forensically to the murders. Not in any way that would hold up in court. Neither does someone (who was this source?) saying that Scolaro once bought ammo of a certain type link him forensically to shell casings found at the crime scene.

Those are circumstantial factors that would/should have led investigators to request a search warrant to attempt location and recovery of the firearms in question. Once found, identified, tested against the scene evidence, and linked conclusively to Scolaro, the necessary connection could be made.

While it is indeed suspicious that Scolaro disposed of his weapons, that is still only circumstantial in the legal sense. He might have wanted to get rid of damning evidence that could connect him to the murders, but there could be other reasons as well. The longer the time frame between the killings and the time LE tried to get his guns, the more reasonable any other reason might appear.

In regard to Collins, he seems to have had a wide range of MO's if one studies the many murders that investigators have connected to him. He was only convicted of one murder - that of Karen Sue Beineman, but suspected of having committed others as well. Some of those victims were shot in the head with a .22 pistol and others were bludgeoned, stabbed, and strangled. Collins committed sexual acts on his victims, cut or removed clothing from them, and took jewelry and other items from the crime scenes. He is known to have committed his crimes both before and after the murders of the Robison family. In addition, he knew Richie Robison personally, having met him during their Freshman Orientation at Eastern Michigan University.

There is no evidence that Collins was present in Good Hart, Michigan on 25 June 1968 or that he committed the murders. He is not known to have ever committed mass murder of an entire family. Most of his known/suspected attacks were on young women out walking alone. That said, some elements of the Robison case actually do match his MO in surprisingly accurate ways. This is especially true when considering the murders of Shirley and Susan Robison. The overkill bludgeoning of little Susan with a hammer is similar to what he did to some Ypsilanti victims. And the removal of some of Shirley's clothing and the theft of her wedding ring match many of his other kills.

On the other hand, no evidence has been released that would place Scolaro at the scene either - and there is nothing to indicate that he had any kind of previous MO to match to the murders. How does he go from being an embezzler to being a mass murderer with a perverted sexual element? When did he do this before? Or after? There is an element of rage and overkill in this case that has to be accounted for.

 

[Melquiades]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion and you have the right to express it here.

However, you need to make it clear that it is your OPINION that ballistics point to Scolaro rather than that those tests "prove" his guilt. The ballistics tests did NOT prove that the bullets came from Scolaro's gun or from a gun owned by or linked to any other possible suspect. Saying that the shell casings matched other shell casings found at a public shooting range where numerous people shoot and that Scolaro might have also fired his gun there does not link him forensically to the murders. Not in any way that would hold up in court. Neither does someone (who was this source?) saying that Scolaro once bought ammo of a certain type link him forensically to shell casings found at the crime scene.

Those are circumstantial factors that would/should have led investigators to request a search warrant to attempt location and recovery of the firearms in question. Once found, identified, tested against the scene evidence, and linked conclusively to Scolaro, the necessary connection could be made.

While it is indeed suspicious that Scolaro disposed of his weapons, that is still only circumstantial in the legal sense. He might have wanted to get rid of damning evidence that could connect him to the murders, but there could be other reasons as well. The longer the time frame between the killings and the time LE tried to get his guns, the more reasonable any other reason might appear.

In regard to Collins, he seems to have had a wide range of MO's if one studies the many murders that investigators have connected to him. He was only convicted of one murder - that of Karen Sue Beineman, but suspected of having committed others as well. Some of those victims were shot in the head with a .22 pistol and others were bludgeoned, stabbed, and strangled. Collins committed sexual acts on his victims, cut or removed clothing from them, and took jewelry and other items from the crime scenes. He is known to have committed his crimes both before and after the murders of the Robison family. In addition, he knew Richie Robison personally, having met him during their Freshman Orientation at Eastern Michigan University.

There is no evidence that Collins was present in Good Hart, Michigan on 25 June 1968 or that he committed the murders. He is not known to have ever committed mass murder of an entire family. Most of his known/suspected attacks were on young women out walking alone. That said, some elements of the Robison case actually do match his MO in surprisingly accurate ways. This is especially true when considering the murders of Shirley and Susan Robison. The overkill bludgeoning of little Susan with a hammer is similar to what he did to some Ypsilanti victims. And the removal of some of Shirley's clothing and the theft of her wedding ring match many of his other kills.

On the other hand, no evidence has been released that would place Scolaro at the scene either - and there is nothing to indicate that he had any kind of previous MO to match to the murders. How does he go from being an embezzler to being a mass murderer with a perverted sexual element? When did he do this before? Or after? There is an element of rage and overkill in this case that has to be accounted for.

I mean, it's not like I'm on an island with my opinion. It's also the opinion of law enforcement and the prosecutors on the case, and the only reason Scolaro didn't go to trial for this was because he killed himself before they had a chance.

Law enforcement is so bloody convinced he did it that they held public forums in 2018 to try and kill the sort of rumormongering and speculation you're doing.

50 years after Michigan family's massacre in cottage, investigators put rumors to rest

When the prime suspect killed himself, the police investigation was put in the "inactive" files. Then the rumors began.

www.mlive.com

And the matching shells weren't at a public shooting range, they were at a private shooting range used by Scolaro's family and owned by his father-in-law. Like, I guess it's theoretically possible that some other family member had the exact same gun as Scolaro and then committed the murders on his behalf or something? But again, surely you can see where this is hugely stretching the bounds of credibility and it's again Occam's Razor and the simplest explanation is likely the correct one.

Collins is basically a teenage Ted Bundy who used ruses and vehicles to get attractive teenage girls alone and then killed them horribly. He might have varied weapons but his MO and victim type is pretty consistent. He wasn't a guy who annihilated families and doesn't appear to have a history of being interested in 7 year old girls. There is a 0% chance he did this, absolutely nothing lines up, and he certainly wasn't at the Scolaro family shooting range.

Scolaro has been the prime suspect from Day 1, the authorities are convinced he did it, he was going to be tried for it, he had motive, he had the same types of guns used in the killings, he has no alibi, and the firearms/ballistics evidence is overwhelming. There should be very little doubt that he did it.

 

[Richard]

Again, you are certainly entitled to your opinion regarding this case. But as the interesting link you provided states:

- And after five decades, the hefty case files remain stacked in a category that's typically considered a death knell for investigations: those marked "inactive" and "unsolved."

You state that Law Enforcement held public forums in 2018 to kill "my" sort of "rumormongering and speculation". This is not accurate. Your link clearly states that it was the author of a recently updated book on the murders who was sponsoring those meetings - not any official law enforcement office or agency.

Scolaro seems to be the only named official suspect in the murders, and investigators focused on him early on. However, they failed to bring charges for five years, and never did locate the weapons that he allegedly used to murder the Robison family.

Joseph Scolaro committed suicide in 1973, before police could arrest or charge him. He shot himself in the head with one of his pistols. It would be interesting to know if police compared bullets and shell casings from that pistol to those found at the Robison cabin. In his suicide note, he denied having killed the Robisons.

A sketch of where the Robison family's bodies were found in the cottage on July 22, 1968.

 

[Melquiades]

Again, you are certainly entitled to your opinion regarding this case. But as the interesting link you provided states:

- And after five decades, the hefty case files remain stacked in a category that's typically considered a death knell for investigations: those marked "inactive" and "unsolved."

You state that Law Enforcement held public forums in 2018 to kill "my" sort of "rumormongering and speculation". This is not accurate. Your link clearly states that it was the author of a recently updated book on the murders who was sponsoring those meetings - not any official law enforcement office or agency.

Scolaro seems to be the only named official suspect in the murders, and investigators focused on him early on. However, they failed to bring charges for five years, and never did locate the weapons that he allegedly used to murder the Robison family.

Joseph Scolaro committed suicide in 1973, before police could arrest or charge him. He shot himself in the head with one of his pistols. It would be interesting to know if police compared bullets and shell casings from that pistol to those found at the Robison cabin. In his suicide note, he denied having killed the Robisons.

A sketch of where the Robison family's bodies were found in the cottage on July 22, 1968.

It’s only ‘inactive/unsolved’ because the guy they’re utterly convinced did it killed himself as they were about to arrest him. They can’t really go anywhere from there.

Probably not surprising that someone would try to deny doing something this awful and spare his family members from that knowledge. I don’t really think the denial means much.

 

[Richard]

It’s only ‘inactive/unsolved’ because the guy they’re utterly convinced did it killed himself as they were about to arrest him. They can’t really go anywhere from there.

Probably not surprising that someone would try to deny doing something this awful and spare his family members from that knowledge. I don’t really think the denial means much.

Scolaro's death by suicide certainly left a lot of loose ends for law enforcement. It occurred BEFORE any charges were drawn up and any arrest warrant issued. As with most suicides, it is very hard to know exactly what was going through his mind and what his reasons were for killing himself.

It is obvious that Scolaro was thinking about the Robison murders when he took his own life, because he mentions them in his suicide note, denying that he had anything to do with them. But if Scolaro committed suicide five years after the murders because he KNEW his arrest was imminent (as some theorize) it would mean that someone in that northern Michigan county prosecutor's office tipped him off.

There are somewhat conflicting stories regarding guns and ammunition used in the murders, as well as guns owned by Scolaro and by other potential suspects. Some reports state that four guns were used in the murders, while others state that there were only two. Bullets and casings recovered at the scene of the murders were identified as .22 long rifle and .25 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP).

It is stated that .22 shell casings found at the scene were matched to .22 casings found at a shooting range and that all were fired from an Armalite AR-7 .22 rifle. This would have been done by comparing firing pin marks on the shells. No such rifle was ever recovered by police to link to the murder bullets, although it is stated that Scolaro at one time owned two of these rifles and that he had disposed of both "around the time of the murders". Before or after?


ArmaLite AR-7 survival rifle with 8-, 10-, and 15-round magazines (.22 Long Rifle)

Scolaro also was said to have purchased two identical .25 Beretta pistols. He had told police that he had given one of them to Richard Robison at some point. And he still had at least one of them in 1973 which he used to shoot himself.


Beretta 950 Jetfire pistol and 8-round magazine (.25 ACP)

Autopsy reports state that Mr. Robison and his oldest son Richie were both shot with .22 bullets but that they were also shot in the head with .25 ACP bullets. All of the other family members were shot with .25 ACP ammunition, and all at close range from within the cabin. All of the .25 casings should have been found inside the cabin, while at least one .22 casing or possibly more should have been found outside.

Photo comparison of .22 long rifle ammunition (left) and .25 ACP ammunition.

No firearms of any type were found at the scene of the murders, even though reports speculate that the Robison boys might have been going to a bedroom to get their .22 rifle to defend themselves and the family. Why such a statement if there wasn't any firearm found? And if there was such a rifle, what was the make, model, and serial number? If it was taken from the scene by the killer, it would be valuable evidence to pursue.

Test firing the .25 Beretta pistol taken from Joseph Scolaro's hand in 1973 and comparing fired bullets and shell casings from it to bullets and casings taken into evidence might have conclusively connected Scolaro to the Robison murders. Was that ever done and if so what were the results?

 

[Richard]

The Robison family, all murdered 25 June 1968 at Good Hart, Michigan.

One of Michigan's most horrifying and perplexing mass murders took place in late June 1968, at the private summer resort of Blisswood in northwest Michigan, two miles north of Good Hart. An entire family of six - Richard C. Robison, 42, and his wife Shirley, 40; sons Richard, 19, Gary, 17, Randy, 12, and daughter Susie, 8 — was gunned down at their summer cottage on Lake Michigan. One of the bodies was discovered on Monday, July 22, by caretaker Chauncey A. Bliss after the Robisons' neighbors alerted him to a foul odor near the cottage. The caretaker wasn't surprised that the door was locked and windows tightly curtained. The last time he had seen the family was on June 23, when Robison had told him they were about to leave on a trip.... More at link below.

LINK:

Photos of Richard Carl “Ritchie” Robison - Find a...

One of Michigan's most horrifying and perplexing mass murders took place in late June 1968, at the private summer resort of Blisswood in northwest Michigan, two miles north of Good Hart. An entire family of six - Richard C. Robison, 42, and his wife Shirley, 40; sons Richard, 19, Gary, 17...

www.findagrave.com