WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – A motion hearing was held on Friday for the man accused in the cold case murder of a mother who was abducted after dropping her son off at school over 35 years ago.
Buster Robbins is accused of the rape and murder of Beverly Wivell in 1989. Her body was found in Superior Township.
Previous coverage: ‘Until I hear guilty, it’s not over’: Son waits for justice in mom’s Washtenaw County cold case
A pretrial and motion hearing was held in Washtenaw County on Aug. 29.
The defense filed a motion to suppress evidence before the murder trial begins, specifically digital evidence related to Robbins’ cellphone.
The defense argued that a search warrant of Robbins’ phone violated his Fourth Amendment, calling the search warrant a fishing expedition.
They added that recent information, including Robbins’s more recent location, contact, browser history, and social media activity, has no relevance to the crime from 1989.
Prosecutors argued that murderers and perpetrators of sex crimes are often habitual offenders.
A judge ultimately granted the defense’s motion, but only denying it in part, saying any information pertaining to this case can be used, but information related to Robbins’ other alleged crimes cannot.
A final pretrial hearing is scheduled for January 2026, and the trial is set to begin in February.