OAKLAND COUNTY CHILD KILLER

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It has been 47 years since the first known victim of the Oakland County Child Killer was abducted and murdered.

Between 1976 and 1977 someone killed at least four children in Oakland County, Michigan.

By Thursday, 100 lawmen from Oakland County, volunteers, Oakland County Sheriff’s investigators, the county helicopter and the special Oakland County Task Force all were scouring the area. Here is their 1977 summary report on the Oakland County Child Killer case:Homicide investigations are, at best, difficult to work on and the Oakland County child murders are certainly no exception. However, in 2012 it was revealed that there is zero evidence suggesting Busch is the Oakland County Child Killer. Lawson, who was already serving a life sentence for murder, told WDIV in 2006 that he knows who the Oakland County Child Killer is. At one point a man going by the name “Allen” claimed his roommate, “Frank,” was the Oakland County Child Killer.

Barry King, the father of Oakland County Child Killer victim Timothy King, has died. Timmy King was the fourth victim to be connected to the Oakland County Child Case in the 1970s. After Timmy’s body was found, police knew they had a child killer on their hands. Barry King spent decades pursuing the case on his own, trying to prove the identity of the Oakland County Child Killer. 5-part Oakland County Child Killer docuseriesThe “Child Killer” docuseries focuses on the unsolved murders of at least four children in Oakland County between 1976 and 1977.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Investigators have exhausted many leads while trying to solve the Oakland County Child Killer case. Read more: Oakland County Child Killer case backgroundAt least four children were killed between 1976 and 1977, and investigators have been working for decades to determine who the serial killer is. A lead investigator in the case, Cory Williams, said that DNA is a large part of the investigation, and he is excited about new DNA technology that could help develop profiles in the future. Hear from Williams in the video above.

The "Child Killer" docuseries focuses on the unsolved murders of at least four children in Oakland County between 1976 and 1977. Investigators have been working for decades to determine who the serial killer is and if he is still alive. In that time, the four children were abducted and murdered with their bodies left in various locations within or just outside Oakland County. There were at least two other murder cases that investigators believe may have been victims of the "Oakland County Child Killer" or "The Babysitter Killer," as some called him. The ensuing murder investigation was the largest of its kind in U.S. history at the time.

Someone killed at least four children in Oakland County, Mich. between 1976 and 1977. In that time, the four children were abducted and murdered with their bodies left in various locations within or just outside Oakland County. One theory around the unsolved case revolves around North Fox Island, a remote island in Northern Michigan tied to a child pornography ring. AdIt wasn't until years after that a connection to the unsolved Oakland County Child Killer case starting to emerge. Watch Chapter One of "Child Killer: North Fox Island" in the video player above.

Someone killed at least four children in Oakland County, Mich. between 1976 and 1977. In that time, the four children were abducted and murdered with their bodies left in various locations within or just outside Oakland County. And at the end of the day, every mother would pick them up," said L. Brooks Patterson, who was the Oakland County prosector at the time. AdThe crimes, which started in 1976, launched an all-out manhunt for what police would eventually call the "Oakland County Child Killer." Watch Chapter Two of Child Killer: Out in the Cold in the video player above.

Someone killed at least four children in Oakland County, Mich. between 1976 and 1977. Investigators have been working for decades to determine who the serial killer is and if he is still alive. In that time, the four children were abducted and murdered with their bodies left in various locations within or just outside Oakland County. Police knew they had a serial child killer on their hands. Watch Child Killer Chapter Four: The Investigation in the video player above.

Someone killed at least four children in Oakland County, Mich. between 1976 and 1977. In that time, the four children were abducted and murdered with their bodies left in various locations within or just outside Oakland County. The largest task force in U.S. history at the time was assembled to try and find the child killer. Could one of them be the Oakland County Child Killer? Watch Child Killer Chapter Five: Suspicion in the video player above.

Someone killed at least four children in Oakland County, Mich. between 1976 and 1977. In that time, the four children were abducted and murdered with their bodies left in various locations within or just outside Oakland County. After King's body was found, police knew they had a child killer on their hands. AdBefore the murder of Timmy King, police and the public couldn't fully connect the dots on the various cases of missing children and murders. Watch Chapter Three of Child Killer: Timmy King in the video player above.

Police were investigating a child pornography ring on North Fox Island in 1977, just months after three Oakland County children were killed and just weeks before another child was abducted. WATCH TONIGHT: Local 4 Oakland County Child Killer special at 10 p.m. One theory in the case is that the pornography ring was part of a group of wealthy pedophiles who trafficked in child pornography and groomed underage kids. Richards was prosecuted for child pornography and has since died. Investigators do not believe either man is the Oakland County Child Killer, but they do believe the killer could be someone they victimized.

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – As we take a closer look at the Oakland County Child Killer case this week, we’re hearing from those who have a real stake in unraveling the mystery that’s frustrated investigators for more than four decades. Barry King, whose son, Timmy, was the fourth and final known victim, is heavily involved in the case as he does everything possible to ensure the case is not forgotten. At that point, terrified families became certain the murders were the work of a serial killerIn Birmingham, the King family was about to find out that the Oakland County Child Killer was not done yet. Search for killer continues decades laterPolice and prosecutors have a white board with their top 19 suspects on it. Some are in jail, some are dead, and none have been charged with the death of the four children.

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – It's one of Metro Detroit's biggest unsolved mysteries. A serial killer struck Oakland County in the mid-1970s. Before stranger danger existed, kids in Oakland County would stay out and play until the street lights came on. Defender Kevin Dietz was 12 years old and lived in Bloomfield Hills when the Oakland County Child Killer sent the parents in his neighborhood into a panic. Everyone was speculating who the child killer might be.

Here's a look back at what happened in 1976-77 when four children were killed in Oakland County. Investigators have been working for decades to determine who the serial killer is and if he is still alive. For the full background on the Oakland County Child Killer case, go here. For more Oakland County Child Killer articles and videos, go here. WATCH: Trailer for new series on Oakland County Child Killer case coming this month

A new series on the Oakland County Child Killer case is coming to Local 4 this month. The project, part of Local 4's "Shattered" series, will take a deep dive into the unsolved case, while exploring new angles and leads as investigators continue to search for an answer more than 40 years later. More details will be released soon. Watch the trailer in the video player above.

The Oakland County Prosecutor's office announced a break in...

DETROIT – Students from the University of Western Ontario came to Metro Detroit to help solve one of the area's biggest murder mysteries: Who is the Oakland County Child Killer? Special coverage: Oakland County Child Killer caseBush had a drawing on his wall of a boy in agony which closely resembled victim Mark Stebbins. The Western Ontario students have concluded that no charges have come in the Oakland County Child Killer case because police have mismanaged the investigation. They say separate grand juries in Oakland County and Wayne County is confusing. A source tells Local 4 that Bush is not the Oakland County Child Killer and they are not giving much merit to the Canadian students' report.

DETROIT – Decades after sending shockwaves through metro Detroit, the Oakland County Child Killer case is still open and making headlines again. The family of one of the victims has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the Oakland County prosecutor, sheriff and several investigators. Children kidnapped, killedAt least four children from Oakland County were kidnapped and found dead between 1976 and 1977. Watch: Oakland County Child Killer victim's family files lawsuitWatch: Legal experts call lawsuit flawedMihelich family says investigators withheld informationThe family of Kristine Mihelich says the case was mishandled so badly that they feel any hope of learning their daughter's killer is lost. More: Oakland County Child Killer special section

This year's class project is one that hits close to home for Metro Detroiters: The Oakland County Child Killer case. In 1976 and 1977, four Oakland County children were kidnapped, help captive for days and then killed and place along public streets in Metro Detroit. Investigating the Child Killer case has cost millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of man hours. The students are trying to do what investigative units have failed to do up to this point: Solve the Oakland County Child Killer case. Why choose the Oakland County Child Killer case?

LONG READ: Oakland County Child Killer Case BackgroundFor 35 years it has been an unsolved mystery with a lot of speculation, but no physical evidence. She then was floored to find out that according to police files obtained for the first time, police have been able to make a DNA match in the Oakland County Child Killer case. Police reports say this is "the first physical evidence match in the Oakland County Child Killer case's history." The victims' families were recently told Gunnels would stay in prison for decades unless he cooperated in the Oakland County Child Killer case. Police investigating Gunnels have learned he was molested by a key suspect in the Oakland County Child Killer case -- a man named Christopher Busch.

ROMULUS, Mich. – Theodore Lamborgine, another suspect in the "Oakland County Child Killer" case from the 1970s, was reunited in court Tuesday with former partner in crime, Richard Lawson. Out of the five men involved, Lamborgine and Lawson are the only two living members of that ring. Three new names of suspects in the investigation were listed and one of those names matched the one Lawson gave as the Oakland County Child Killer. The name Lawson gave was Bobby Moore, one of the deceased members of the sex ring. Previous Story:Prosecutor: Man Suspect In 'Oakland County Child Killer' Case