Before we begin, I have to credit the work of Marilyn Wright and the team at the Traverse City

Record Eagle newspaper. Without their efforts in the mid to late 1970s, this coverage would not be

possible. Local journalism matters. This episode discusses the murder and sexual assault

of children. This content may not be appropriate for all audiences.

Listener discretion is advised.

The investigation is proceeding, but I can't say that a suspect has surfaced or nor that an arrest is imminent.

Oakland County became concerned, fearing it might be an ugly pattern developing.

The consensus?

That the killer was either dead himself or gone from our communities and all of this will happen again.

In the early part of the 20th century, North Fox Island was owned by an investor, J.O. Plank.

If Plank's name is familiar, he is one of the developers

of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Now, you'll find North Fox Island in Lake Michigan off the

Lelanaw Peninsula. If you look at the Fox Islands on a map, you can see that the island is shaped

like an upside-down teardrop.

North Fox Island measures approximately two miles long and one mile wide at its broadest point.

The island is approximately 847 acres and was, and is largely uninhabited.

Its terrain is dominated by a dense young forest with a rocky shoreline,

which is broken by a sandy western edge.

The island's location and difficulty accessing the island

made it an ideal place for the horrific actions of Francis Sheldon,

who, along with his brother, bought the island in

1960. Sheldon later assumed full ownership of the island after his brother sold his interest to him.

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