Washtenaw County judge bars child sexual-abuse material evidence in 1989 murder case

A Washtenaw County judge has ruled to exclude evidence of child sexual abuse material found on Buster Robbins’ device from his upcoming trial for the 1989 rape and murder of Beverly Wivell, narrowing the scope of what prosecutors can present. The judge limited arguments to whether there is enough circumstantial evidence to support a sexual assault allegation, rejecting broader claims of restraint or binding, while allowing some evidence related to consent. Robbins was identified as a suspect through forensic genealogy and a DNA match decades after the crime, and he remains in custody pending a July 2026 trial. The investigation has also sparked interest in possible connections to other cases, but no further charges have been detailed.