THE 1-94 MURDERS book opening, bullying, and the bizarre confession of Carl Dorr

Frank signing books at Battle Lake. Frank signing books at Battle Lake. The I-94 Murders book opening will be on September 22, 2018 at the Shoppes in Little Falls.  The release of this thriller will be the full moon event at the Shoppes for September.  The Starry Eyed Brewing Co. will be brewing a “Blood Orange” IPA for the event and other tasting samples will be available.  Award winning chef, Scotty Stocco, will be preparing appetizers.  As with the book opening of Murder Book, I’m inviting blog readers to suggest background music for the opening.  I have included a short summary of the book in the last blog, and I’ll share some of the suggested background songs I’ve received so far:Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins (The book starts out with a younger sister teasing her older sister with her version of “Please Come to Buckman for the springtime…. You can sell your sweetcorn on the sidewalk… By a gas station that cuts hair where I’ll be working soon…”)Sharing the Night Together – Dr. HookLong Train Runnin’ – The Doobie BrothersS&M – RihannaHighway Patrolman – Bruce SpringsteenIn da Club – 50 CentPony – GinuwineI’m Still In Love With You – Steve Earle & The Del McCoury BandCrazy On You – HeartCruel to Be Kind – Nick LoweFlower – Amos LeeFour Strong Winds – Neil YoungBring It On Home to Me – Sam CookeStill the Night – BoDeansGood Ole Boys Like Me – Don WilliamsI Want You Back – Jackson 5Amen – HalestormFountain of Sorrow – Jackson BrowneLet It Ride – Bachman-Turner OverdriveThat Smell – Lynyrd SkynyrdI Love You – Amy BelleChain of Fools – Aretha Franklin On May 31, 1986, Carl Dorr of Silver Spring, Maryland, experienced the worst day a parent could experience.  His daughter Michelle Dorr disappeared, and investigators told Carl they suspected his 6-year-old daughter was dead.  Carl experienced tremendous guilt and shame over not watching over and protecting his daughter.  She had been in a small plastic pool in the backyard.  Carl was brought in for a polygraph examination and failed.  Carl was interrogated by investigators over and over and finally confessed to having killed his daughter.  He told the police they could find her body under the crawl space of his house.  (Her body was not there.)  He then told investigators he had buried her above his father’s casket in the graveyard.  It wasn’t there.  Carl stated the TV was now talking to him attempting to give him clues about his daughter’s disappearance.  Carl finally placed himself in a hospital and, after three days of rest, he came back out and stated he never killed his daughter.  He took another polygraph examination, stating he had nothing to do with his daughter’s disappearance, and this time passed.  Carl Dorr had experienced a psychotic state after the overwhelming loss of his daughter.  

On that day, May 31, 1986, Hadden Clark had been kicked out of his brother’s home in Maryland, after his brother accused him of improper behavior with the children in the home.  His brother took the kids away for the day, and gave Hadden the day to pack.  

On October 18, 1992, 23-year-old Harvard graduate, Laura Houghteling, was stabbed to death in her bedroom, just a couple miles away from Carl Dorr’s home.  The place had been very carefully cleaned; however, a hair from a wig was found on her brush.  Investigators knew the family gardener, Hadden Clark, was a cross-dresser.  Clark ultimately confessed to the murder.   Investigators who worked the Michelle Dorr disappearance, remembered Hadden Clark was a neighbor who was interviewed in Michelle Dorr’s disappearance.  Hadden became physically ill when Michelle’s name was mentioned during the interview in 1986, but when Carl Dorr confessed, the investigation ended.  It was six years later, but investigators went back to Hadden Clark’s old home, near the Dorrs, and tore up floor boards, ultimately finding Michelle’s DNA.  Hadden was convicted of Michelle Dorr’s murder, and, shortly after his conviction, showed police where Michelle’s body was.  It was believed Michelle had come to the Hadden Clark’s door looking for her friend and instead found Hadden Clark alone in the home.  Hadden Clark is described as a paranoid schizophrenic with and obsession with killing.  ​ A recent study on bullying revealed the following statistics:75% of all school shootings are associated with the shooter being bullied.  More than half of bullying situations stop if a peer intervenes.  Schools with anti-bullying interventions have demonstrated a decrease in bullying.  Being ostracized can be more damaging than physical bullying, as children who are viewed as outcasts feel a threat to a meaningful existence.  Bullies are generally average academic students.  They are not loners and often they have people who, at the very least, give them attention for their misbehavior.  Victims of bullying have increased suicidal ideation.  LGBT students are the highest risk of being bullied in schools.  All children with disabilities are at higher risk to be bullied.  Being ostracized in school activates the same areas of the brain that are activated during physical pain.  Prior to middle school, girls bully more than boys.  After middle school, boys bully more than girls.  You have to ask the child directly if they have been bullied or physically hurt by someone.  None of the parents of the children who reported being bullied in the study, were aware their child had been bullied.  One of the best things you can do is have healthy children talk to bullied children or bullies in the schools, to provide them some healthy support.  Students want to make the world better, and one of the best things they can do is have an impact on students who struggle right in their school.  Our best students are very busy; however, one of the best things they can do is have an impact in their very own community.  Quotes:

An apple a day keeps anyone away, if thrown hard enough.

The more you weigh, the harder you are to kidnap.

He’s the fool that there’s no old fool like.

The difference between genius and stupidity, is that genius has its limits.  Albert Einstein


Thanks for listening,
Frank Stain glass window titled: "The Decent of the Holy Spirit" from St. Michael's church in Buckman.  I love the way the white and blue robe glows in the sun. Frank speaking at a mystery writers panel from Sisters in Crime at the Brooklyn Park Library last Saturday. Frank enjoying a cream ale at Starry Eyed Brewing Co. in Little Falls.  Note the message on the mirror.  Avery Jane Weber Shane and Rachael Weber with their daughter, Avery.