Inside the Chilling Case of a Michigan Serial Killer Who Bathed Victims Before Killing Them

In one of the most chilling unsolved cases in the country, a serial killer abducted and murdered several children in Oakland County between 1976 and 1977.

The quiet suburban community was gripped by fear as the bodies of four victims—two boys and two girls—were discovered at separate locations. Authorities determined the children had been either strangled or shot, and investigators later revealed that the two boys had been s------- abused.

At the height of the investigation, eight police agencies and more than 300 investigators worked on the case. Despite the scale of the effort, the killer has never been identified.

Investigators believe the suspect held the children captive for periods ranging from three days to three weeks. During that time, he reportedly fed and bathed them before ultimately killing them.

Three of the victims were strangled, while one was shot in the face. Their bodies were later left in public or semi-public areas, near homes, along roadsides, and in ditches, often covered in snow.

The four confirmed victims were:

• Mark Douglas Stebbins, 12, of Ferndale

• Jill Robinson, 12, of Royal Oak

• Kristine Marie Mihelich, 10, of Berkley

• Timothy John King, 11

Authorities also examined possible links to other cases, including Donna Serra, 17; Jane Louise “Janey” Allan, 13; and Kimberly Alice “Kim” King, though no definitive connections were established.

Mark Douglas Stebbins disappeared on February 15, 1976, after leaving an American Legion Hall. His body was later found in the parking lot of an office building in Southfield.

“I kept hearing noises and thinking it was Mark,” his mother, Ruth Stebbins, told People at the time.

Jill Robinson vanished on December 22, 1976, after leaving home following an argument. Her body was found along Interstate 75 in Troy, within view of the local police station. She had been shot in the face.

“When someone asks how many children I have and I automatically say three … I can’t believe that now it’s only two,” her mother, Karol Robinson, said.

Kristine Marie Mihelich disappeared after walking to a 7-Eleven store. Nineteen days later, a mail carrier found her body along a rural road in Franklin Village. Investigators determined she had been killed less than 24 hours before she was discovered.

“Kris was really a joy,” her mother, Deborah Mihelich, said. “At least this is what we have told ourselves.”

Timothy John King vanished after going to a pharmacy. His body was later found in a ditch in Livonia.

In a desperate plea, his mother, Marion King, wrote an open letter to the killer that was published on the front page of The Detroit News.

The killings shocked the nation and led to widespread public safety campaigns, including “Don’t Go with Strangers,” along with a $70,000 reward for information.

The task force pursued more than 18,000 tips but failed to identify a suspect. It was eventually disbanded in December 1978.

Composite sketches were created based on witness accounts—some obtained under hypnosis—but none led to an arrest.

Modern DNA testing later produced a profile from collected evidence, but it has not matched any known individual. To this day, no suspect has been officially named.