State police investigator: Cox interfered with murder investigation

A state police investigator alleged Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox interfered with an investigation into a party that allegedly occurred at the Detroit mayoral residence, Manoogian Mansion.

Investigator Mark Krebs, a detective with the Michigan State Police, testified in the civil lawsuit against former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and other officials for their alleged involvement in the 2003 murder of Tamara Greene. Greene allegedly was a dancer at a party at the mansion, but was shot to death in 2003 as an investigation into the alleged wild party was getting going.

Krebs testified that investigators, himself included, were stymied by Attorney General Mike Cox, reports WDIV television in Detroit. Krebs alleges that Cox would not authorize subpoenas to further the investigation, directed detectives not to interview Kilpatrick’s wife, Carlita, and told investigators he would interview Kilpatrick himself, alone, without attorneys or other witnesses present.

Krebs testified reluctantly, joining two other state police officials to fight an order to do so by filing a federal court action to quash the subpoena. But a judge ruled yesterday that the testimony of the officers was “imperative” and ordered them to testify. Shortly after that, Krebs took the stand, with his testimony lasting over six hours. The other two investigators, Curt Schram and John Figurski, will likely give depositions in the case at a later date.

Cox is term limited from the post of attorney general, and is running for governor as a Republican. He faces Tim Rujan, Rick Snyder, Tom George, Pete Hoekstra and Mike Bouchard in a tight Republican primary.

Greene’s family alleges that her death was connected to the alleged out of control party, at which she was an exotic dancer. Her family’s lawsuit has uncovered testimony of 9-1-1 operators and workers who worked at the party, which officially has never been proven to have occurred.

Greene’s murder case has recently been re-opened and sent to a special violent crimes investigation unit made up of representatives of the FBI, the Michigan State Police and Detroit Police. The move was ordered by new police chief Warren Evans, formerly the Wayne County Sheriff.