Michigan Department of Corrections-Christopher Luke Pratt, Inmate# 673261
This original letter was sent to Inmate Christopher Luke Pratt on March 3, 2008. After four months he still has not responded to my request for an interview. Perhaps some friends or relatives could convince him to talk with me. What harm would it do especially since he maintains he is innocent of any involvement in Mary's disappearance? Another letter was sent on July 12, 2008?July 12, 2008
Mr. Christopher Luke PrattInmate # 673261Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility1727 West Bluewater HighwayIonia, Michigan 48846
Dear Chris;
I have not heard from you since my initial letter of March 3, 2008. Today, marks 4 years and 4 months since your story that Mary Denise Lands, your beloved fiancée walked away from the Waldon Pond Apartments on March 12, 2004 at about 10:00 P.M.
I would like to once again ask for your help in finding Mary. As one of the people in her life that would want to know these answers, I respectfully request your assistance. Why would you not want to help? Why would you ever refuse an offer of people who could clear you of any wrongdoing related to Mary’s case? Don’t you want to prove to your boys, Luke & Josh that you are totally innocent of being involved in her disappearance? Even from your jail cell you could be instrumental in the search for someone who you claim that you loved so much. Recently I had an offer of assistance from additional investigative professionals who would be willing to meet with you to discuss the case. If you don’t wish to deal with me, perhaps you might be willing to speak with these investigators. What do you have to lose? Anyone with a clear conscious would want to have these answers. Don’t you want to know the answer to everyone’s question, Where is Mary? I hope you will be willing to do this but either way the family and I with the help of the law enforcement community will never give up. We will eventually bring Mary home.
Thank you for any consideration you may express in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jim Carlin
Justinian Investigative Services
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March 3, 2008
Mr. Christopher Luke Pratt
Inmate # 673261
Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility1727 West Bluewater HighwayIonia, Michigan 48846
Re: Visit & Interview
Dear Christopher:
I hope you are fine and doing well and adjusting to life in the Michigan Department of Corrections facility at Bellamy Creek. I had hoped to speak with you for a few minutes prior to your sentencing in Calhoun County in December, but you jumped up quickly and booked out of the visitor’s area? I couldn’t understand why you would not meet with me at the jail? I’m an objective person and willing to listen.
We had quite a dialogue in September 2004, and I never could fully understand why you would not provide more help on Mary’s case? You gave me a great deal of information, but most of it was false. I kept an open mind when we spoke, however bit by bit, and piece by piece it was later obvious that everything you told me were lies.
Chris, I now have well over 8,300 hours dedicated to the investigation of Mary’s disappearance. I’ve done all this at no charge for the family. As I previously told you, I wanted to write a story about missing persons and how those tragedies affect families and loved ones. Immediately after I realized the lies you told to me that short feature turned into much more.
I've interviewed over one-hundred individuals who know you and your unusual behavior. People have described your idiosyncrasies and bizarre mannerisms related to anger and control. The crying jags in a naked fetal position on the floor, your bouts with bi-polar mental disorder, your drug and alcohol abuse, your demeanor related to pornography and the television program, "Deal or No Deal". It goes on and on and can be seen as chapters in an abnormal life. To this day, I still continue to hear stories about you that can be documented by numerous witnesses in your family and with co-workers.
You know, and I know, what happened to your fiancée, Mary Denise Lands. Only through divine province and God’s will was your most recent girl-friend able to escape your brutal grasp of anger and control. She is now living a much more happy and productive life with her children and her family has successfully emerged after all those months of fear she experienced with you as her "protector" and "boy friend". The really sad thing about that relationship and your others is that you could have had such a good family of people who sincerely cared for you. However, you wasted all those opportunities. I include all the women in your life even going back to the one who moved to Florida. Her family was afraid of you even back then in high school.
Chris, although you are now in prison for other crimes the Marshall family will not give up in their pursuit for justice. We fully believe that we will bring Mary home so she may rest in peace. You are in a position to help and I would be willing to speak with you at any time or in any prison for information. I’m willing to follow-up on any theory if you can convince me that you had nothing to do with Mary’s disappearance? If you do wish to talk about what happened to Mary I would be willing to be the conduit between you and the law enforcement community about any facts or your side of the story. We both know that as each day passes the new investigative team of the Michigan State Police is closer to solving the mystery. There are people out there who could do this in a day and they are only waiting to do so when it is in their own best interests, not yours.
I do not make any judgement on you. I really feel sorry for you. For a 40-year-old male to be in the situation that you are today it could only have been caused by a life of turmoil and turbulence in your family. I see your Mom often and it is obvious that she is also deeply suffering.
Last year you missed out on Michigan’s hunting season and you won’t be able to sneak out early for pike at Ceresco Dam this year. It will be a long long time, if ever, before you will hunt or fish again. All these results and your present situation were brought upon because of your own anti-social behavior. It was no ones fault except your own. You are "your own worst enemy". I hope that while you are in prison that you will take advantage of any programs that can improve your quality of life.
I’m probably the last person in the world you would want to see in prison for a visit, however I would be glad to meet with you and discuss anything of your choice. If you can provide me with any information and insight related to the person/s responsible for the disappearance of Mary Lands, I would follow up on every one of those points. If you wish to meet and don’t even want to discuss Mary’s case I would also be willing to do so. If the real Chris Pratt isn’t the person I’ve heard about over the last 4 years, I’d like to hear about the real Chris from the person himself. Next week we will again meet at the Circle Fountain in Marshall to mark the 4th anniversary of Mary’s disappearance. We will continue to ask, Where is Mary? and, When will we have justice for Mary? You could help another those questions. Give it some thought.
Regardless, I hope you can eventually find inner peace and I wish you the best.
Sincerely,
Jim Carlin
Justinian Investigative Services
Update, June 15, 2008- Chris Pratt has been incarcerated for nearly one full year after his arrest in June 2007 for domestic violence. As you know, in January 2008 he was sentenced up to 15 years in prison for crimes against another girl-friend. If you have information on Mary's disappearance you are urged to contact the police.
