July 31, 2009
LANSING -
Attorney
General Mike Cox today released the following statement in response to the
Michigan Court of Appeals decision to uphold the convictions against all the
defendants found guilty for the 1979 rape and murder of 22-year-old Hope College
student, Janet Chandler.
"I applaud the
court's decision to uphold the convictions against those responsible for
murdering Janet Chandler. This is a case about a community never giving up. I
applaud all those involved for remaining committed to bringing justice for Janet
Chandler and her family.
"Janet
Chandler's murder may have happened 30 years ago, but today's action reaffirms
that justice may be delayed -- but not denied.
"My thoughts
and prayers are with the
Chandler
family as they continue to relive this tragic story. My office remains
committed to upholding the prosecutions of those responsible for murdering Janet
Chandler."
Chandler
disappeared while working the night shift at the desk of the Blue Mill Inn in
Holland on
January 31, 1979. She was discovered missing when
Holland Police responded to a robbery call from the Blue Mill Inn. A snowplow
driver discovered
Chandler's
body nearly 24 hours later adjacent to a turn-around on I-196.
On
November 1, 2007 the final four defendants in the
Chandler case were found guilty of murdering
Chandler,
bringing an end to the criminal case. In all, six individuals were found
responsible for the murder
This case was
prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigations (OSI) in
partnership with Ottawa County Prosecuting Attorney Ronald Frantz. The appeal
was handled by the Attorney General's Appellate Division.
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