Friday, November 13, 2009

A Plea from Cliff & Anita, after 5 years, 8 months, and 1 day











The Marshall have asked that previously posted idiotic, juvenile, false, pathetic, and immature comments please cease. This site is related to the March 12th, 2004 disappearance of their daughter, Mary Denise Lands, and how we can work together to bring her home. These inane ramblings do not help in our objectives. Yes, we can moderate the site and delete these infectious remarks, but the Marshall's wish people to see just how low, dirty and despicable some can be in their comments. For every one of you who contributes these vile remarks we have one hundred close supporters who have been faithfully with us since this tragedy unfolded.

I am cognizant that many people do not like me, and that is their opinion. However, these same people should stop and think what it would be like in their life if they woke up this morning and found a loved one missing or murdered? No one, including myself, can know what it is to walk in the footsteps of Cliff & Anita Marshall. No one can understand and feel the pain they have endured for the last 5 years, 8 months, and 1 day. Think about that pain before you write the hate-speak you seem to enjoy so much. We will not be deleting it, as we want the world to see what some twisted minds are capable of writing. We hope our other friends will continue to contribute in a positive manner with the goal to bring Mary home to her final resting place. As I have previously mentioned, you know my address and telephone numbers, if you ever wish to speak with me, please give me a call. Perhaps I can learn more on why you have so much hatred bottled up inside?

On a more positive note, Chief Jim Schwartz of the Marshall Police Department has been at the helm of his agency now for over two months. He appears to be an outstanding law enforcement professional who is dedicated to solving Mary's case. For the first time, Cliff, Anita, and I plan to meet with him this morning for a discussion about Mary's investigation. You may recall, over 3 years ago we met with the new city manager, Chris Olson. He immediately launched into a bizarre tirade and informed Anita Marshall that "we were part of the problem, not part of the solution." She abruptly left the meeting never to return again to talk with city officials. Today, Anita's tough Portuguese temperament has mellowed and she looks forward to meeting the new chief. That callous and obstructionist city manager is long gone, and we now know there is a positive professional attitude within the Marshall Police Department. Chief Schwartz, his team of diligent investigators, and the Prosecutor's Office are committed to bringing to justice the person/s responsible for the disappearance and murder of Mary Denise Lands. Cliff & Anita know that this will occur, and we also know that through the efforts of law enforcement and information from the public we will soon bring our Mary home.


Update- November 14, 2009- Cliff, Anita, and I were extremely impressed with the honest, sincere, and genuine remarks of Chief Schwartz from our meeting on Friday. He indeed, is an outstanding police professional who will not only resolve the Mary Lands investigation, but also will restore respect and honor to his agency. Anita Marshall does not smile often enough, but she truly was pleased and beaming by the comments of Marshall's new "Top Cop". Cliff stated that he could look into this man's eyes and tell he was truly committed to what he had to say to the family. This is the hope that we have been waiting for after 5 years, 8 months, and 2 days since this tragedy unfolded.
As the Chief mentioned, his discussion focused on how we are going to address the situation at hand currently, and the Marshall Police Department’s ambitions for the future. He assured the Marshall's that his door will always be open to anyone who wishes to bring something to his attention. He also stated that he is looking forward to further discussions related to Mary's case in the near future.
The citizens of Marshall should be on notice. Although this "Top Cop" is not a sheriff, the analogy is still quite fitting and accurate. "There's a new sheriff in Marshall," and he will not stand for incompetence and laziness. He will be demanding the ultimate in professionalism from the members of his agency as they serve the citizens of Marshall. This man is no phony or token head of the Marshall Police Department. He is Chief Jim Schwartz, and he will get the job done.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Happy Birthday, Mary Denise Lands

On September 3, 2009 our beloved Mary Denise Lands would have been at home with family happily celebrating her 45th birthday. She was taken from us after a tragic and abusive domestic violence relationship with her fiance, Christopher Luke Pratt. As most of you now know, Inmate Pratt is serving a 5-15 year sentence in the custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections for assault and domestic violence convictions upon another more recent girl-friend. http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=673261
He is now incarcerated in Level IV at St. Louis Correctional Facility and is eligible for parole in February 2012. He has not been charged in any crimes related to Mary's disappearance.

A new top cop has now been appointed in Marshall to lead the investigation. Chief Jim Schwartz takes over on September 8th and plans to work closely with the Michigan Attorney General, Michigan State Police, and the Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office to bring to justice the person/s responsible for the disappearance and murder of Mary Denise Lands. Chief Schwartz was a homicide investigator and Commander of the Collier County Sheriff's Office, Crime Scene Bureau, in Florida. He is an educated police professional who knows how to solve crime. As we have done in the past, we will note the contact information for law enforcement officials. If you have any information pertaining to Mary's case you are urged to call. Help Cliff & Anita Marshall bring their daughter home.


D/Sgt. Scott McDonald, Marshall Police Department, 269.781.2596

D/Sgt. Mike Scott, Michigan State Police, White Pigeon Post, 269.483.7612

D/Sgt. Mike Salmen, Michigan State Police, Battle Creek Post, 269.968.6115

Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office, Battle Creek, 269.969.6980

or you may also contact;

Jim Carlin, Justinian Investigative Services, Battle Creek, 269.963.7068

"Please Help Us, Bring Mary Home"

For those who may not have viewed or listened to our popular YouTube video from Mary's 4th Anniversary Vigil (March 2008), we have posted a new link; "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep" by Jersey boy, the Boss Springsteen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZdLwAGxu9M

You might like to take another few minutes to listen to Country Gentlemen- "Bringing Mary Home." Cliff & Anita truly loved it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ0_82boXUM

Together we will bring her home!

Jim Carlin, JustinianLaw@sbcglobal.net

Monday, August 17, 2009

James Schwartz named as new Marshall police chief

Update- August 17, 2009- Adrian, Michigan Deputy Police Chief James Schwartz has just been named the new police chief in Marshall. We welcome him to the community and hope one of his paramount objectives will be to solve the Mary Lands case. Today, Mary has now been missing for five years, five months, and five days. The Marshall family looks forward to sitting down and talking with the new chief about their daughter's case.
Acting Chief Scott McDonald did an outstanding job in the interim not only on Mary's case, but in all his duties as interim chief. We know he and his investigative team will actively work to close the case and bring to justice the person/s responsible for the disappearance and murder of Mary Denise Lands.
Congratulations, Chief Schwartz.

Battle Creek Enquirer- After more than 18 months without one, Marshall will have a police chief next month. Adrian's Deputy Police Chief James Schwartz accepted the position shortly after 3 p.m. Monday, Interim City Manager Tom Tarkiewicz said, pending background checks. His salary will be $67,000, plus benefits, and Tarkiewicz expects him to start Sept. 8.

The city narrowed its search to two finalists last week: Schwartz and Lt. Michael Sherzer of the Battle Creek Police Department. The position has been open since January 2008, after Public Safety Director Mike Olson was placed on administrative leave for violating city policies. Since then, Det. Sgt. Scott McDonald has served as acting police chief. Marshall Human Resources Coordinator Tracy Hall said five of the 47 applicants were called in for interviews with a panel consisting of Hall, Tarkiewicz, Calhoun County Sheriff Al Byam and Coldwater Public Safety Director Brett Pehrson, who served as deputy chief in Marshall prior to taking the Coldwater job.
A new Marshall police chief could be hired this week, as the city has narrowed its search to two finalists: Det. Michael Sherzer of the Battle Creek Police Department and Adrian Deputy Chief James Schwartz.
The position has been open since January 2008, after Public Safety Director Mike Olson was placed on administrative leave for violating city policies. Since then, Det. Sgt. Scott McDonald has served as acting police chief.
Marshall Human Resources Coordinator Tracy Hall said five of the 47 applicants were called in for interviews with a panel consisting of Hall, Interim City Manager Tom Tarkiewicz, Calhoun County Sheriff Al Byam and Coldwater Public Safety Director Brett Pehrson, who served as deputy chief in Marshall prior to taking the Coldwater job. The panel called back Sherzer and Schwartz for second interviews last week.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

TrackMissing conducts another search for Mary

On Sunday, July 26, 2009 the TrackMissing organization conducted multiple searches for Mary Lands throughout Calhoun County. The story is noted on the new video link of WZZM-13 News
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=111785&catid=14

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Latest FOIA request on Christopher Luke Pratt, Inmate # 673261

The latest Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on Christopher Luke Pratt, Inmate # 673261 from the Michigan Department of Corrections is now available for viewing. He is presently incarcerated as a Level IV prisoner at Thumb Correctional Facility in Gratiot County, St. Louis, Michigan. The FOIA materials are viewable on the "Links to Mary" to the right and are in PDF format. It is a 29 MB file and may take a few minutes to download but can be read.

As we have mentioned in the past, Inmate Pratt is eligible for release in February 2012 on his 5-15 year felony convictions and could be scheduled for a parole hearing in late 2011. It is never to early for any citizen to contact MDOC and ask to be notified on transfers and parole hearings for Inmate Pratt. Anyone has the opportunity to write to the Parole Board and express your opinion in this matter. He needs to remain in jail.
In June, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions in a Calhoun County Circuit Court. This inmate is a vicious and violent sociopathic criminal and a severe threat to society and his previous victims. He deserves to remain in prison until the expiration of his sentence in 2022. He is a suspect in the open homicide investigation of his former fiancee, Mary Denise Lands.

MDOC OTIS Record on Inmate Christopher Luke Pratt
http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=673261

Monday, July 13, 2009

Mary Denise Lands, the search in Michigan continues...

It has now been 5 years and 4 months since Mary allegedly walked away from her Waldon Pond Apartment in Marshall, Michigan. Christopher Luke Pratt, Mary’s fiancĂ© at the time has been in prison for over 2 years on a violent assault of a more recent girl-friend, Norrene Parker, and is serving 5-15 years on those felonies. Recently the Michigan Court of Appeals turned down his appeals. He may be eligible for release in February 2012. Although Inmate Pratt is a suspect in Mary’s disappearance and murder he has not yet been charged.

The search for Mary continues and during the week of June 22-26, 2009 Carren Corcoran of Canine Search Solutions in Wisconsin came to Michigan at the request of the TrackMissing Foundation to examine water and land locations in an attempt to locate Mary. Accompanying her was Karen Kraemer of the Broken Wings Network. Carren’s dog is a certified cadaver animal utilized by law enforcement agencies across the country.

Cadaver dogs are trained to alert in various different methods. The alert by Carren’s dog is indicated by the animal sitting down either in a boat or in the water. Alerts were documented during this search and they are being followed up on to ascertain the origins.
YouTube Video- Search for Mary- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K592kGX40Bg

Michigan Department of Corrections online record of Inmate Christopher Luke Pratt, #673261. He is now incarcerated at St. Louis Correctional Facility as a Level IV prisoner.
http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=673261

Another You Tube Video- Christopher Luke Pratt- Suspect, Disappearance and Murder of Mary Denise Lands-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArKvNH-hIoM

Take a good look at this person! Do you want this violent criminal offender released back into our community? Do your part to help find Mary. Take a bite out of crime and call in your tip.
We will keep you posted on progress.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Michigan Court of Appeals Affirms all convictions of Christopher Luke Pratt

Battle Creek Enquirer- 06/13/09

BREAKING NEWS- The Michigan Court of Appeals in a 9-page decision affirmed all the charges and the convictions of Christopher Luke Pratt. The full decision may be read at the Michigan COA website; http://coa.courts.mi.gov/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20090611_C284299_48_284299.OPN.PDF
The decision at the end read; In our view, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in considering the entire course of conduct beginning before and continuing through the unlawful imprisonment.
The trial court considered the entire course of events during the 15 or 20 minute incident, during which defendant, who was over six feet tall and weighed approximately 300 pounds, demanded that the victim, who was five feet, two inches tall and weighed just over 100 pounds, give him the cordless telephone; slammed the telephone on the ground, telling her that she would never discover who he was talking to; informed her that he cheated on her and laughed; grabbed her in a bear hug, lifting her feet from the ground, and squeezed her so hard that he cut her finger on her ring; cursed at her and used derogatory names; pulled down a baker’s rack full of items that scattered near the victim; ripped the telephone cord out of the wall when the victim ran to the telephone and tried to use it; and pushed the microwave oven off of the kitchen counter near her feet. When the victim then attempted to run out of the house, defendant grabbed her keys, threw them outside, blocked the doorway and restrained her. He then left in his truck when she told her son to call the police.

The threatening, anxiety-producing conduct continued throughout the commission of all the crimes, including the unlawful imprisonment. Under the facts of this case, the fear and anxiety during the short time of the unlawful imprisonment could not be separated from the incident. In the present case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that defendant’s conduct was designed to substantially increase the fear and anxiety the victim suffered during the unlawful imprisonment.
Affirmed.


/s/ Karen M. Fort Hood
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly


MDOC Information, Inmate # 673261-Christopher Luke Pratt
http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=673261