CHEBOYGAN,
Mich. – On Thursday, October 11, agents from the Wisconsin Department of
Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sturgeon Bay Police Department
made an arrest for the alleged murder of Carol Jean Pierce, who was reported
missing in September 1975. Law enforcement arrested Carol’s husband, Richard
Gale Pierce, in his hometown of Cheboygan, Michigan.
“Three
generations of law enforcement have worked to close this case,” said Attorney
General Brad Schimel. “Today, we were able to make major progress in finding
the answer to Carol Jean’s disappearance. Though many of Carol Jean’s family
and friends are no longer alive, justice must still be provided for the late
Carol Jean and those loved ones who still wonder what happened so many years
ago.”
“After
over four decades of investigation, Sturgeon Bay Police Department recognizes
the Fillion family has endured 43 years of anguish for the loss of their
sister,” said Sturgeon Bay Police Chief Arleigh Porter. “With no answers as to
‘why’ for years, perhaps some ‘answers’ will begin to be offered to the Fillion
family members. While the pursuit of justice is often difficult, and in this
case long overdue, investigators never gave up and hope to bring to light
answers to family members on Carol Jean’s behalf.”
The
criminal complaint alleges that Carol Jean Pierce, at age 35, was murdered by
her then-husband, Richard Pierce on or about September 5, 1975. Richard
previously stated to law enforcement that he saw Carol Jean on the morning of
September 8, 1975. Richard stated that when he returned home that same
afternoon, Carol Jean was gone. The complaint alleges Richard was the last
person to see Carol Jean Pierce alive, had motive and opportunity to end her
life, and benefitted from her demise in numerous ways, which included a pension
unencumbered by a wife; most of the important belongings of their marriage;
land and a home in Michigan; a new girlfriend weeks after Carol Jean’s
disappearance, as well as the benefit of Carol Jean’s silence.
Richard
Gale Pierce currently is being held at Cheboygan County Jail (Michigan) until
his return to Wisconsin.
This
case was investigated by the Sturgeon Bay Police Department and DCI, with
assistance from Michigan State Police and Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office. It
is being prosecuted by the Door County District Attorney’s Office. This case
was additionally reviewed by the Wisconsin Cold Case Review Team of the
Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators.
A
suspect is innocent until proven guilty. A copy of the criminal complaint is
attached.
Attachments:
