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

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.