August 24, 2005

Niles  -  The mystery of who committed a 15-year old murder in Cass County was unveiled with the arrest of Michael T. Dunnuck yesterday.   Dunnuck is suspected in the murder of William Harley Whittaker, age 42, who was found dead in his trailer in Pokagon Township from a gunshot wound on March 7, 1990 .

Whittaker’s death was quickly ruled a homicide and remained under active investigation until 1997.  The case was then made inactive until January 21, 2005 when D/Sgt. Fabian Suarez, Niles Post detective, re-opened the case. 

Suarez thoroughly reviewed the entire case and focused in on Dunnuck, who had previously been a witness.  After extensive interviews, which took investigators to multiple states and uncovered previously unknown information, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz authorized felony warrants for Murder and Felony Firearm.

In the early morning hours of August 23, Dunnuck, age 34 of Byron, Michigan was arrested by the Michigan State Police First District Fugitive Team.  Troopers from the Niles Post then transported Dunnuck to the Cass County Jail for processing and arraignment.    Dunnuck has since been arraigned on a felony charge of murder and remains in the Cass County Jail.   

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

F/Lt. Michael Brown, Niles Post commander, (269) 683-4411

Read more news releases from the Michigan State Police.