28 Years Later, Justice For Slain Student

School Documentary, Tireless Investigators Help Solve 1979 Murder Of Janet Chandler

(CBS/AP)  For more than a quarter century, the brutal kidnapping, rape and murder of a 22-year-old college student had seared the memories of those who struggled to solve the case.

Janet Chandler's slaying was unsolved but not forgotten by local police, or by former Hope College professor David Schock.

Schock assigned a communications class in 2003 to put together a documentary on the 1979 kidnapping, rape, torture and murder of the Hope student.

The resulting 80-minute film, "Who Killed Janet Chandler?," retold the story and showed where Chandler's body had been found. The film aired on Grand Rapids' public television station WGVU, 25 years to the hour of the discovery of Chandler's body.

The broadcast renewed interest in the case. Cold case detectives picked up the clues again. Four detectives began working the case exclusively, traveling to 18 states and conducting more than 300 interviews.

Nearly three decades later, six people in Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were arrested. Two have since plead guilty and are in jail; four more have been convicted; and prosecutors say it is still an open investigation, and will not comment on whether more charges are pending.

Lt. John Slenk, one of the Michigan State Police investigators in 2006, told CBS affiliate WWMT, "I always asked if they've turned over every rock. And if the answer is 'no,' then we keep going, until we turn over every rock, and that's what we're still continuing to do now."

"It has been a long road," Schock, who no longer teaches at Hope, told The Holland Sentinel after the convictions.

"I am pleased. I think justice has been served."

CBS affiliate WWMT correspondent Scott Noll reports all four men on trial this week were found guilty in the attacks that witnesses say stemmed from jealousy over Chandler's alleged relationships with other guards staying at the former Blue Mill Inn where she worked.

The prosecution said Chandler, 22, was abducted and taken to a party at a nearby home, where she was gang-raped and strangled.

A snowplow driver discovered her body a day later, about 35 miles south of the west Michigan city.

The men convicted in her slaying were Wackenhut security guards who were staying at the inn.

Arthur Carlton Paiva, 55, of Muskegon, Mich., was found guilty of first degree murder, felony murder kidnapping, and felony murder rape. James Cleophas "Bubba" Nelson, 60, of Rand, W.Va.; Freddie Bas Parker, 50, of Powellton, W.Va.; and Anthony Eugene Robert Williams, 56, of
Boscobel, Wis., were all found guilty of second degree murder, felony murder kidnapping and felony murder rape.

Laurie Ann Swank, 49, of Nescopeck, Pa., and Robert Michael Lynch, 67, of Three Oaks, struck deals in the case, pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Both Lynch and Swank, who was Chandler's supervisor when the 22-year-old disappeared from the front desk of a Holland inn where she worked the night shift, testified against the four other defendants.

Prosecutors were pleased with the verdict

"The brutality that this poor woman, this poor college women, younger than many of their children, had to go through - they deserved it, said attorney general's office spokesman Matt Frendewey.

After the verdicts were read Chandler's family left without commenting to reporters.

The emotions proved too much for one member of Freddie Parker's family, who required medical treatment after the verdicts were announced.

Holland Detective James Fairbanks, now retired, worked the Chandler murder case 28 years ago. He called tonight the day he prayed for, a sense of relief that though justice was delayed it was not denied.

"It's something I never forgot," he told WWMT. "Janet Chandler has been in my mind since it happened."

All four suspects face life in prison at their sentencing next month.

The convictions brought a sense of closure to Chandler's family and to Holland, a small community about 25 miles southwest of Grand Rapids that is known for its colorful tulip festival.

Schock credited Chandler's family for believing their daughter's killers would one day be caught.

"Their faith has sustained them. Their faith has sustained me," he said.

[my2centss]

The same people paid to protect are the ones you cannot trust. Now thats a reason to give up our guns. We have police and security to protect us.

[gulltracks]

Sarah Tobias lived to tell (good thing for the world) after she was gang raped in the Mass. little town bar. Janet was a bright & diligent 3rd year college student with a lovely singing voice. She took time out to make a bit cash as a motel clerk. I can just imagine this motel lobby, filled with crusty, shiftless wonders, leaning on the counter with their randomly boring stories and idle chatter. Regardless of her involvement, what chance did she have against blitz-crazed socios with nothing better to do but hang, for many weeks, in this quiet little town buried in snow drifts(Michigan 1979 - BIG time snow). Really though, the "changing of the guards" is a tough row to hoe. Fast forward to 1983 (or 1987?) - nobody spoke up for Sarah Tobias either. Resulting notariety came from a major motion pic (with only some similar circumstances), that probably squelched ideas in the twisted minds of many, capable of rape / violence (and/or in a brew of mob mentality), that might have resisted action with comparable memory-of-movie logic (assuming an existing conscience) and thus, kept the genie in the bottle, so to speak. Ya gotta ponder this...

[gulltracks]

Would these criminals be free were it not for the Hope College students and their teacher, Prof. Schock, who produced the incredibly revealing 2004 film? I suspect so. Since the verdict is finally in, for the six worst offenders, we now wonder what fate befalls the onlookers who were scared, threatened, blackmailed, indifferent, or whatever the reasons, (regardless degree of remorse) they had in their respective, befuddled minds for keeping mum for 27 years.

[gulltracks]

Would these criminals be free were it not for the Hope College students and their teacher, Prof. Schock, who produced the incredibly revealing 2004 film? I suspect so. Since the verdict is finally in, for the six worst offenders, we now wonder what fate befalls the onlookers who were scared, threatened, blackmailed, indifferent, or whatever the reasons, (regardless degree of remorse) they had in their respective, befuddled minds for keeping mum for 27 years.

[docadams3]

Has anyone mentioned that these were employees of the same company that guards the nuclear power plant in the other story? They''re the one who are asleep at work. Wacko seems a more appropriate name for the company.

[rhs648]

Not one person went for help. How do you manage to get so many evil people in one house and watch this happen to someone. There was one man who was taking pictures of it happening and people walking by the room looking in to see what was going on. Check out wwmt website for archives on this story. It''''s just sickening. Wonder what else their guilty of, they''''ve been free for so long you cant tell me after that night they never raped or killed ever again.

Posted by Duskay13

Mob mentality possibly coupled with alcohol and/or drugs. This horrible crime may have been their only crime. Equally amazing is how this group and others at the party kept their participation quiet for nearly 30 years. Often, criminals brag to other people resulting in their arrests. Interestingly, The article did not mention whether any of these people had other problems with the law over the years.

[duskay13]

Not one person went for help. How do you manage to get so many evil people in one house and watch this happen to someone. There was one man who was taking pictures of it happening and people walking by the room looking in to see what was going on. Check out wwmt website for archives on this story. It''s just sickening. Wonder what else their guilty of, they''ve been free for so long you cant tell me after that night they never raped or killed ever again.

[sblake63]

Lmao they cant be black. No Shaniqua''''s, Tyrone''''s LOL. Ever wonder if racism isnt being amplified by the face some people have to give such strange names to their kids?




Posted by sblake63 at 10:46 AM : Nov 03, 2007

______________________


Correction LOL, fact, not face...

[sblake63]

Lmao they cant be black. No Shaniqua''s, Tyrone''s LOL. Ever wonder if racism isnt being amplified by the face some people have to give such strange names to their kids?

[vampire1288]

better late than never. but if the case was solved 28 years later , when memories dim people pass on, why could it not been solved just after it happened.. it took the action of a bunch of civilians to jump start the cops again... those criminals have had 28 years of freedom and liberty.. while the victim was consinged to a hole in the ground after a horribe execution

[gkc99]

Let''s all give Hope College professor David Schock a huge thank you for being the bringer of justice, such as it can be in a case like this. The cops had clearly written it off as unsolvable, even if they did remember. But so many more recent horrors doubtless occupied their attention. The professor reminded everyone that some vicious murderers were out there still enjoying their own lives.

This is a clear case for a firing squad execution. No drifting off into dreamy-dreamy land for these scumballs!

[borismrm]

I bet all 4 were Black. Any takers?
Posted by sentry88 at 11:02 PM : Nov 02, 2007

You sound just like a "Real Racist A@@hole", I am willing to bet they all were white. Just read their names. Do you have any education?

[ciocia1]

Here''s a useable link, and the bigot loses the bet:
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=83145

[cbs_oliver]

I bet all 4 were Black. Any takers?
Posted by sentry88 at 11:02 PM : Nov 02, 2007

OK Bigot I''ll bet you $200,000 or $100 whichever you feel more comfortable with.

You on?

[sentry88]

I bet all 4 were Black. Any takers?

[jjarden]

They ALL should have been executed to make up for the fact that they were allowed to live long, free lives. This countries judicial system is an utter joke.

[myidoncbs]

I said, "I''d call it "justice" if she hadn''t been killed."

I meant, "I''d call it "justice" if she hadn''t been killed or raped or disappeared or anything else unpleasant."

[myidoncbs]

"Justice For Slain Student"???

I''d call it "justice" if she hadn''t been killed.

Of course, what they mean is they convicted somebody of the crime. But it''s definitely not the same thing.

Just like there is no such thing as "closure", there is not much real justice in this world.

[keithle1]

Better late than never.

[nothappyatall]

AFter 30 years of enjoying complete freedom this 55 year old *** gets caught now and that''s JUSTICE for the victim?