The note read: “To Police I saw Marvin Irvin kill Micki West in St. Joe Mo I want to tell because I can’t sleep I want to get it over with or I will kill myself He hide her body so no one find it” This was not the first written communication in the case. In seven years, there had been several others, each different in form and content. All were unsigned. The first was a letter mailed from Des Moines, Iowa, on the same day Micki Jo West disappeared. Made from cutout magazine letters, it contained symbols, a Latin quotation, and a reference to Psalm 11:5 and 6 — verses about God hating those who loved violence. In another note, mailed to a local newspaper reporter, the author claimed they were paid $20 by Marvin Irvin to kill a white girl and put her in a well. A third note named Marvin Irvin as the killer, but provided no evidence to back that up. Each note was investigated and nothing helpful was discovered. Detective Schweder was assigned
The note and stationary from another message about the Micki Jo West homicide, written in the distinctive hand seen in the previous messages.
to look into the latest note found in Overland Park. He sent the original to a crime laboratory to check for fingerprints. Over the next few weeks, four other notes were found, one in Overland Park and three in St. Joseph. “They were from the same author and had essentially the same message,” Schweder concluded. “This person was desperately trying to get attention, crying out for help. When the Overland Park Police did not respond, they came to St. Joseph to make sure someone knew they needed help.” If the notes were genuine, the author had to be someone already known in the case. Many questions needed to be asked and answered. Who would remember and observe the anniversary date of the crime? Who had a motive for renewing interest in the case? Was anyone with Marvin Irvin the day Micki Jo West disappeared? Was there a person connected with the case who lived in the Overland Park area? Why were the notes unsigned? How could the author be identified and
compelled to talk? Sgt. Schweder was assigned to the case full-time and brought in FBI Behavioral Science profilers. The FBI concluded the notes had legitimacy. The only sure way to tell was to find the author. The strategy was to reopen the case and contact all of the principal persons, including Marvin Irvin. The notes would not be made public unless it was absolutely necessary. Over the next six months, everyone important to the case was re-interviewed. Arden Locke lived in Kansas City, Kan. The original investigating detectives thought he was the note writer. He could easily have left the notes in the Overland Park mall. Locke was a reserve police officer. From the first, Locke was critical of the way the case was handled. He complained often and publicly by contacting the Kansas City news media. The detectives accused him of meddling and amateur sleuthing. Locke accused them of incompetence and laziness. The next best possibility was a man Marvin Irvin said was with him the day Micki Jo disappeared. There was no report of an interview
A note from Aug. 16, 1990, sent to Kansas City TV station KQTV, now in stencil, continuing the series about the Micki Jo West homicide, all believed to have been sent or arranged by Marvin Irvin.
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