Linette and I attended a memorial service tonight for a friend that was, earlier this week, found murdered in Detroit. His name was Jeremy Waggoner. As yet, no suspects have been identified. Toward that end, I’d like to ask anyone who might have seen Jeremy (pictured right), or anything unusual taking place between East Indian Village and Belle Isle on Monday, to contact the Detroit police.
If, for whatever reason, you don’t feel comfortable contacting the police, another alternative would be to contact the Triangle Foundation. Following is the message being distributed by Melissa Pope at the Triangle Foundation.
A gay man has been murdered in the Detroit area and Triangle Foundation needs your help to solve this crime and bring justice for him and his family.
Jeremy Waggoner, a 37-year-old Detroit resident, was murdered early this week. Jeremy, a stylist at the Michael Angelo Salon in Royal Oak, was well-known and deeply loved.
On Tuesday, June 10, 2008, Jeremy Waggoner’s body was found in a grassy field on Detroit’s eastside. He was brutally bludgeoned and possibly stabbed. Police are not sure whether Jeremy was killed in the grassy field or at another location and his body then dropped off. Few details of the murder, including the possible motive, are known at this time. His green 1997 Mazda MPV has not been found. If anyone has information about the murder of Jeremy Waggoner, please contact Melissa Pope at 313-909-3634 or via e-mail at melissa@tri.org. All calls are confidential.
Very little is known at this time. Given that several of his dogs and cats were found outside of his home on Bewick Street in Detroit, it seems likely that he was compelled by force to leave sometime Monday afternoon. He was reported missing Monday evening, and his body was found on Beaufait Street the following day.
Any information that you might have would be appreciated.
And, if you could, I’d like to ask that you send this to anyone you know who might have been either in Indian Village or near Belle Isle on Monday.
[The Channel 7 news story on the case can be found here.]
76 Comments
You may wish to see a related posting of mine from Friday morning. This story grabbed me straight from the moment I saw the headline and has continued to haunt me since. I’m so very sorry for the loss of your friend. May the police find Jeremy’s killer(s) soon and bring them to justice.
I’m no detective, but it would seem he might have had contact with the murderer(s) before if they took him out of his house.
Sorry to hear about this but I would have to agree that there is quite a bit more to the story. A death like this is absolutely meaningless but Detroit thrives upon it. On the other hand, why any White person of any persuasion, was living in that area almost warrants trouble.
I’m not really sure why R would make a comment like that! Maybe if it happened to someone you knew you would think before you type.
Shut up, R.
There’s another Detroit site where a mention of Jeremy’s murder led to a somewhat insensitive debate on whether or not hate crimes should be punished more than other serious crimes. It occurred to me that unfortunate things might get said in this thread as well, but I thought that the good probably outweighed the bad. If this thread begins to move in that direction, mentioning race, sexual orientation, etc as possible explanations for what happened, I’ll remove it. My intention wasn’t to create a forum for people to air their biases, or guess as to the events of last Monday. I just wanted to help get the word out, in hopes that someone might have seen something.
I’m sorry for your loss, Mark. Is your friend the son of Prof. Waggoner at U of M’s Law school? Just curious.
I hope that whoever did this to your friend is found and punished.
“My intention wasn’t to create a forum for people to air their biases, or guess as to the events of last Monday. I just wanted to help get the word out, in hopes that someone might have seen something.”
It is guaranteed that NOBODY saw NUTTIN’. Hence my original comment and the state that Detroit is in. O.K., I’ll “shut-up” now.
R, let me guess, you don’t live anywhere near Detroit, and don’t have the slightest idea where Bewick Street is.
Mark, have the Detroit Police determined yet whether or not Waggoner suffered stab wounds?
No official word as of yet as to whether he was stabbed. I think they’re probably keeping some of the details out of the press, thinking that it will help with the investigation. I assume they’re working multiple leads.
Yes, during questioning they may test possible suspects’ knowledge of specific details like those.
Yes, that’s my guess.
Mark,
Since I have heard about Jeremy Waggoners murder, I cannot stop thinking about it. Why hasn’t the media done more on this story? I have been praying for Bob’s safety as well. I am praying they catch the evil monster or monsters who did this to him. I am concerned for anyone who comes in contact with those monsters as they roam the streets freely while Jeremy’s friends, family and pets are left to mourn the loss of a beautiful person who was taken too soon.Is there any news on the story? Suspects? Why isn’t there more media coverage? This is infuriating to me, I can’t imagine how it is for Bob and his family.
Thanks,
Shi
as you may know jeremy and I have been together for a number of years. I am not yet convinced that his was a hate crime although it was hateful. I beleive jere left the house for just a short time hoping to return and was abducted and that robbery was probably the motive. while the area in which we live is urban, it is not much differnent than Woodbridge, Rosedale Park or even Palmer Park. we are talking old and majestic houses. Both jere and I considered ourselves urban pioneers. right now the best anyone can do is pray for jere’s soul and teh capture of the assaillants. thanx bob
Bob-
I am a VERY distant cousin to the Waggoner family and grew up going to “Uncle Bob’s cottage” every summer and haven’t seen much of the family in years- but my heart sank when I read about Jeremy. What a senseless violent act. It saddens me to know that there are people out there capable of hurting others- and not having any idea of how far-reaching the circle of pain they caused. My condolences to Bob and all of Jeremy’s family. I pray the killer(s) is caught.
Any more on this tragic case?
posted at atdetoit.net
http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/5/142357.html?1214175620
Apparently 3 people have told the police that they saw Jeremy the night he went missing at a bar in Hamtramack. They stated that he was there until closing from around 12AM. Its an impossibility in my mind. He left the dogs out in the yard, He was last heard from at 2PM, He missed a doctors appointment at 5, He wouldn’t have gone 9+ hours without a phone call stating he was going out, He was last seen in shorts sandals and a t-shirt and as someone who was pretty particular about his vanity, he wouldn’t go to the bar not dressed up.
All these things point to him being abducted(or otherwise unable to make a call). The dogs alone convinces me. He LOVED his dogs. He wouldn’t leave them in the yard for an extended period of time. If he was planning on going out for the night, the dogs would have been in the house.
moral of all this is: I wish people would stop giving the police bad leads. Now the police think he was at some bar when anyone who knows his routines, knows that he wouldn’t just take off for the night and blow off obligations at this point in his life.
I doubt Detroit homicide detectives are sidetracked by this obviously false lead. Those guys have considerable experience. For a while it may seem as though the investigation isn’t going anywhere, but it’s pretty clear this was a sloppy crime. Detectives will almost certainly catch the killer, and fairly soon. The person or persons responsible would do themselves a favor by turning themselves in and trying to get a plea deal. The detectives and prosecutors will have little compassion for them once they have had to do all the unpleasant work of investigating something like this. The system will be looking to make an example of them.
Is it true that DPD found the body? That would suggest they were most likely already convinced there was foul play involved. They wouldn’t go searching fields on a missing persons report.
The Channel 4 site says “police discovered his body in a field Tuesday afternoon.” I wonder if this was a misstatement and someone else actually discovered the body.
I don’t think it was meant to be intentionally misleading. His body was discovered by a woman near a grassy field on Sylvester near the corner of Beaufait. The police were then called.
I’m the person who posted the comment on the Detroit forum. I was mistaken at that time. It now appears he was out the night he went missing.
“For a while it may seem as though the investigation isn’t going anywhere, but it’s pretty clear this was a sloppy crime. Detectives will almost certainly catch the killer, and fairly soon. The person or persons responsible would do themselves a favor by turning themselves in and trying to get a plea deal. The detectives and prosecutors will have little compassion for them once they have had to do all the unpleasant work of investigating something like this. The system will be looking to make an example of them.”
Robert– you just hit the nail on the head. This person was terribly sloppy and left enough evidence to sign themselves into prison for life. They are doing themselves a terrible disservice by not turning themselves in. Its not a matter of IF they will get caught, its WHEN.
Thank you for the response and update, A.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6910876&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1
Try this link for the Fox News story:
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=6910876
Anything? Any news?
Are the DETROIT PIGS ignoring this hate crime because Jeremy Waggoner was Gay?
Where is Jennifer Granholm on this?
What the fuck!?!
I’ll ask again.
Anything?
H, Fox 2 is working on a feature story as we speak. Jeremy’s sister and partner were interviewed yesterday for the story. The Detroit PD is cooperating with the media. Expect to see it Monday on the 5 o’clock news. It is tentatively scheduled to air then. If that changes, I will post it here.
and no I am not part of the media. I am part of the family.
got bumped for Christine Beatty coverage… Will be on tomorrow, or possibly Wednesday.
Thank you, A… I’ll keep watching…. In the meantime, can you tell us if the police have uncovered any new evidence? Do they have a suspect? Has there been a break in the case?
Thanks for the heads up. it’s great to see they’re still working the case.
5:30 today.. (in 20 minutes)and again at 10PM tonight is when it will be on(fox 2 news). They do have a person of interest they want for questioning. No picture.. just a first name and a description.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7447173&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.
Tonights story.. will air again with updates at 10
Jeremy Waggoner, a popular local hairdresser, was brutally beaten, stabbed and bludgeoned to death in Detroit on June 9.
PERSON OF INTERSET
Seen Monday June 9, 2008 at Mephistos WITH JEREMY and Gold Coast
White Male
5’10” ~ 5’11”
250 pounds or greater
Light hair; blond or gray
Beard
May have receding hairline
May be named “Rich”
Please call 1-800-CRIMESTOPPERS or the Detroit Homicide Unit at (313) 596-2260 if you have any information regarding this case. The file number is #08-163.
Thank you again, A & H, for keeping us here informed on this case. I’m guessing it is helpful to keep this information circulating as much as possible.
For the search engines:
PERSON OF INTERSET
Seen Monday June 9, 2008 at Mephistos WITH JEREMY and Gold Coast
White Male
5’10” ~ 5’11”
250 pounds or greater
Light hair; blond or gray
Beard
May have receding hairline
May be named “Rich”
Somebody somewhere knows something. Please.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea for someone to hire a private investigator to identify this person of interest. The detectives on this case are likely buried in work, and their investigation is slowed as a result. If this case were made a priority, I think they would have had the identity of this person of interest by now. But Detroit homicide detectives probably have to do a lot of triage in where they direct their time and resources. A private investigator could be hired to fill in the gaps where the DPD detectives feel the assistance is appropriate.
I was serious about the private investigator suggestion. It looks to me that the case is stalled until this person of interest is identified.
My name is KC. I grew up with Jeremy and Jennifer. This has dropped me to my knees. It just really hurts!!!! To top it off my phone got stolen thst had her number in it. If there is anyone in this forum that can get me that informatiom; I would be forever greatful.
My number is (502) 681-2104. I live in Kentucky I can’t even imagime the loss, I would really like to hear from Jenni and Kathy. Please help me on this. Thanks
Mark may be able to put you in touch with the family and friends of Jeremy Waggoner. You can e-mail him at markmaynard@mindspring.com
KC I texted your number to Jennifer.
A or H, have there been any more details released by the DPD regarding their investigation?
Robert, nope. The case is cold. Nothing.
I don’t think it would be a bad idea to hire a P.I. to identify this person of interest. I know the DPD could do it if they had the time, but they’re one of the most over burdened big city departments in the country. They really get piled up with work and this is one of the aspects of investigations which departments like Detroit’s have to get to when they have the time. As long as you clear it with the detectives, they will appreciate the assistance and cooperation. They can even direct the P.I. themselves, and that way the P.I. doesn’t mess up any leads.
It would be good to set up a “Justice for Jeremy” fund. You could then take donations and hold fundraisers where you could build a sort of network of concern friends and citizens who want to see this case resolved.
I think you may ask the DPD homicide detectives if they wouldn’t mind delegating any of the more time consuming and menial footwork to a P.I. would be ok. They may be annoyed initially by the request, but may understand and be ok with that if they know you are just doing it to expedite the case and that you would only have it done completely at their direction. They may even be able to recommending a good P.I. because most of the best ones are former homicide detectives anyway.
This is all just a suggestion. I really get the sense that this case is just stalled because its at one of those points where it requires a lot of time consuming leg work, and the detectives are doing triage with their caseload. Like any other job, they are pressured to show maximum results, and this translates to prioritizing their attention toward cases where they can close things out quickly. More complex cases sometimes have to wait while more pressing situations demand immediate attention.
Detroit detectives are some of the best in the country. A big part of that is because they have seen so much. It would understandably make them pretty jaded, but also very sharp. The toughest thing is that they could never possibly do everything they’d like to in as timely a manner as they would like to. They are underfunded and overworked. So you’d have to approach them with that sensitivity, because otherwise they could really get annoyed with someone seeming to be trying to push them or circumvent them.
I think a good P.I. they know and have worked with could sort of act as an extra set of legs for them, assisting at their direction.
IS THERE ANY NEWS?
I haven’t seen anything new posted on-line. I am hoping “A” comes back and gives us any updates there might be.
Has anyone organized any sort of ongoing memorial for Mr. Waggoner? I’m serious when I say something like a Justice for Jeremy fund would be a good idea to get going.
I didn’t even know him, so I’m starting to feel weird being the only one here showing continued interest in the investigation.
Can somebody here direct me to a blog where people actually give a shit?
I think a lot of people give a shit, Robert. What can talking about a case like this on-line accomplish though?
So, Michael, since a lot of people give a shit, I assume they have put together an organization which keeps the issue from fading. Has that been done?
Why don’t you give us some contact info, Robert? I’m sure more than a few people would be willing to email or phone police, and frequently inquire about the progress being made in the case. Give people a chance. Don’t be so standoff-ish.
Sorry…just noticed the link in the story. I promise to check up tommorrow.
Michael and PP, I wasn’t suggesting a bunch of Internet jibber-jabber would be of any help. I also was not suggesting anyone annoy the hell out of the Detroit homicide investigators assigned to this case. What I AM suggesting is that a “Justice for Jeremy” organization be officially formed, and that events be held periodically in order to keep the issue current in people’s minds. It is what I would be doing if it were one of my friends that was murdered in cold blood.
If such an organization were to be formed, I am certain Mark would post notices of their news and events, and I would attend and make a contribution. If anyone needs to contact me they can get my e-mail address through Mark.
Nobody said “annoy the hell out of the police” Robert. I think the internet jibba’-jabba’ is coming from you, ya’ prick… There have been over 15,000 violent crimes commited in Detroit this year, so far. How about attacking the whole problem with an organization?
Hey, I didn’t know the guy. I just know what I would do if it were a friend of mine who was murdered. I’m fine with dropping the subject, as apparently you all have.
…by the way, Movin’Out, somebody did say “annoy the hell out of the police.” I SAID IT! I said it in response to what Portly Pinkerton suggested in the previous comment that “more than a few people would be willing to email or phone police.” I was saying that would not be a good idea, and wasn’t what I was suggesting anybody do. Try to follow along, dumbfuck.
Also, Movin’Out, you piece of annomous shit, there ARE ALREADY many organizations which attempt to address the problems of violent crimes, of which, as you say, there are tens of thousands per year in Detroit. However, there are never more than a couple hundred murders in the city and a person would have to be a complete moron not to have caught on to the fact that a group dedicated to keeping the cause of investigating a certain murder on the front burner IS EFFECTIVE.
So go fuck yourself, you stupid shit, and take your phony anonamous aggressive posturing somewhere were it might pay off.
Sorry “Robert”. I know what you said. I meant that no one was implying it. Maybe you should switch to decaff.
I’ll tell you what…why don’t you post your real full name, and I’ll post mine, you angry fucking psycho. By inquiring about the progress of an investigation, politely, to the fuzz, I think that would also effectively keep it in the front of the minds that matter…the detectives on the case. You come of as kind of a nutjob. By the way…I’m fucking myself right now…thinking of you, you big angry man. Your aggression makes me soooooooo hard.
You’re a dumb asshole, Movin’ Out. If you knew shit about what you were talking about you’d know that the case has stalled out, and it’s not because the detectives don’t get enough calls encouraging them. It is because they have a huge caseload and don’t have unlimited resources and time. An organization which provides assistance by way of a private detective which acts under the direction of the DPD detectives could help get past this stall in the investigation.
I have no interest in your creepy sexuality, nor your opinions on how I come off. I know what I am talking about, whereas you clearly do not.
Well…Rowe Rowe Rowe your boat, gently up your ass….I’m suprized you don’t know any “private dicks” that could help you out. ta-ta…
Gentlemen, can we please step back from the brink of douchitude and remember that this is a thread about a murdered young man? Seriously, this isn’t the place.
I’ll ask around and see what I can find out about the case. I haven’t heard anything in a while. In the meantime, however, I’d appreciate it if we dialed down the anger a bit. Like Ed, I don’t see as how it’s appropriate here. If people want to talk about constructive actions that can be taken, I’m all for it. I don’t, however, see any value in berating people for not having done more to catch the killer. Or, worse yet, blame the cops. I don’t see as how that’s productive.
Movin’Out, I knew I had you pegged. If you are interested in joining with me and doing something constructive on this issue, let’s just get to that. I’m in if you are.
Mark, I’m the only one who has been trying to get discussion going on constructive action. Haven’t you people ever heard of organizations such as the one I am proposing? It’s a fairly common and effective tool.
Also, Mark, has someone said something which could be interpreted as blaming the cops? Nobody has done that here. I’ve said over and over that the problem in Detroit is that those guys are overworked and under-resourced.
On the value of berating people I have to disagree with you. I’ve used it as a tactic in certain situations before and it works. I know for a fact that people can be mobilized by hounding them. And in a situation where you don’t give a rat’s ass what the people you are trying to motivate think of you, there is little reason not to do it. I clearly don’t give a shit what the readers of this blog think of me, or of anything else for that matter. That pretty obvious by now, isn’t it? And I’m no better in person, in most company.
The truth is you all SHOULD feel guilty. Sitting around waiting for other people to do something is pathetic. I despise that aspect of group dynamics. It is behavior that has a cost. I’ve seen examples where it has literally cost lives.
So let’s get a group going.
It should be noted that Crimestoppers is offering up to $1,000 as reward for information in the case.
A “Justice for Jeremy” group could fundraise and offer that money as reward for information which progresses the case.
Funny that you guys mention the name “Justice For Jeremy”, that is exactly the name of the campaign that we’ve just begun. I found this site by searching for the title of our site.
http://JusticeForJeremy.com
The site is under construction, but we’ve posted some items anyway to get things moving. There is a facebook group to join, a phone number to call if you can provide any info, an email list you can join to keep in the loop, and there is a Reward Fund that will start taking donations soon. Crimestoppers is offering $1000, but we are going to add our own reward on top of that. I’m hoping to make it $50,000 or more. But this can only be done if we form a large community around this campaign. We may take donations for investigational funds as well. It’s only been going on for a few days, and is already starting to get expensive.
We welcome anyone who wants to volunteer to help.
Please spread the word about this site and what we’re trying to accomplish.
Thank you for doing this. I’ve joined your Facebook group and will be telling people about your site.
Thank you for starting up the Justice For Jeremy group. That you have done it is a telling testiment of a true friend.
I look forward to helping in any way I can.
Has anyone heard an explanation yet for why Jeremy missed a 5pm doctors appointment that day? What clothes did the witnesses at Mephisto’s Bar in Hamtramck say Jeremy was wearing that night? In what state was his home found; were doors locked? any lights or appliences on?
Hey guys, the full website has been up for a few weeks now. We’ve been doing interviews with newspapers and local television news (WDIV last night, Fox coming up soon), and we have fundraisers coming up to raise money to pay for the private investigation as well as build the reward fund.
May 4th – Memphis Smoke, Royal Oak
http://justiceforjeremy.com/events/050410_RoyalOak.php
May 21-23rd – Car Wash in Ann Arbor
http://justiceforjeremy.com/events/052110_AnnArbor.php
We will not allow the people behind this to stay on the streets, where they will harm others (and probably already have). To borrow a phrase from a now famous speech, We will not tire… we will not falter… and we will not fail.
Robert – Your question above is the exact reason that we do not find much credibility in the anonymous tip involving a bar.
It was originally one anonymous tip from a caller whom claimed to have seen Jeremy leaving Mephisto’s in Hamtramck at 2 am with another guy. However, the anonymous caller couldn’t give a description of Jeremy. How can you claim to have seen someone but not be able to give a description of them? This story has apparently been bastardized to the point that now people are saying “several people” claim to have seen Jeremy leaving the bar. The truth is, no matter how many times you tell the story, it was still just one anonymous caller who couldn’t even give a description of the guy that they claim to have seen. The Detroit police officer who is supposedly in charge of this case can’t keep the story straight either. He stated in the past that he no longer believes the anonymous tip. But, just the other day, he told a reporter that several people saw jeremy at a bar.
And to answer another question, yes, the house and yard were in disarray at approximately 4 pm when Jeremy’s partner arrived home. Door unlocked, dogs running around in the yard, no note left, nothing. All of these things are completely uncharacteristic of the victim. I believe that something had already happened to Jeremy at this point in the day. He missed the doctor’s appointment at 5, and was completely incommunicado after 3:30, which was the last time he spoke to someone that we know personally.
P.S. We’re looking for volunteers (fundraiser help, etc.) if anyone wants to lend a hand. Email us from JusticeForJeremy.com if you’re interested. Thank you ahead of time.
Good work, J4J. The website is excellent and the fundraisers are great ideas too.
Everyone should come out to Royal Oak tonight for the ‘Justice for Jeremy’ event at Memphis Smoke. It’s free!
There will be a raffle to raise funds for the cause, with lots of great prizes to win.
The event begins at 6pm.
http://justiceforjeremy.com/events/050410_RoyalOak.php
Maybe a bunch of people from Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor will want to carpool out to Royal Oak for this event tonight.
Movin’ Out? No?
From the Justice for Jeremy facebook page:
On May 21-23, 2010, The Justice For Jeremy organization will be holding a car wash as a fundraising event in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Funds raised from the car wash will go toward building the Justice For Jeremy Reward Fund, as well as to finance the private investigation.
Hours:
Friday, May 21: 2-7 p.m.
Saturday, May 22: 12-7 p.m.
Sunday, May 23: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Want to help out with this event? We’re seeking volunteers to help with the car wash. Email volunteer@justiceforjeremy.com and let us know which days/hours you’d like to help out.
The Car Wash will be held at:
Ann Arbor Annuity Exchange
45 Research Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
*We would like to thank Doug and Debra Cunningham, owners of Total Detail Mobile Car Care of Ypsilanti, Michigan for conceptualizing and organizing this event.
We would also like to thank Ann Arbor Annuity Exchange for volunteering to allow us to use their property to hold the event.
About $5,000 was raised at Memphis Smoke the other day!