Vidocq JournalWinter 2007
Society Volume Eighteen
Number One
The Head in the Bucket:
Vidocq Society Annual Dinner Dedicated
The Murder of Gregory May
to Dr. Halbert Fillinger, MD, VSM
By Frank Bender and Paul Plevakas
By Paul Plevakas
On August 27, 2001, sitting beneath a trailer at the
Kearney Truck Plaza in Kearney, Missouri, a head was
discovered encased in hardened concrete by the Plaza’s
owner, Steven Rhodes.
The police were notified and an autopsy was
performed on the head. The medical examiner had hopes
that the concrete retained the facial features of the victim.
Upon careful removal of the concrete, the medical
examiner was disappointed to find out that a hat had
been placed over the head before the concrete was
poured. This left no recognizable impression in the
concrete.
The Kearney Police department posted information
about the head on their website in hope of identifying
the victim. The investigators knew the head was that of
Commissioner Wiliam Fleisher, VSM and Mrs. Maggie Fillinger
a 40-60 year old man with teeth in good condition and
Over one hundred Vidocq Society members along extensive dental work.
with their family and friends attended the 2006 annual Continued on page 4
Black Tie dinner. The dinner was held at a new venue,
the Moshulu restaurant on the Delaware River. Guests
Vidocq Society Journal
were welcomed by the music of the Harvey Sister’s
String Quartette.
Winter 2007
The most important event of this year’s dinner was
the presentation of a portrait painted by Molly Phifer of
Contents
Dr. Halbert Fillinger, MD, VSM to his widow Maggie
Vidocq Annual Dinner ................................... 1 and 5
Fillinger. The presentation brought tears to the eyes of
Mrs. Fillinger. The Head in the Bucket ............................. 1, 4, and 5
Dr. Fillinger a Vidocq Society member and
renowned forensic pathologist for over 40 years, passed Commissioner's Message ......................................... 2
away on June 11, 2006 at the age of 79 after a long
Bookspan's Bullets ......................................... 2 and 3
illness.
Dr. Fillinger was the Chief Deputy Coroner for Resources in Cold Case Investigations .......... 3 and 6
Bucks County, the Assistant Medical Examiner for the
City of Philadelphia for 28 years, and finished his career Solve the Mystery .................................................... 6
Continued on page 5
© Copyright 2007 by The Vidocq Society — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Page 2 Winter 2007
Commissioner’s Message Bookspan’s Bullets
By Dr. Jolie Bookspan, Science Officer of the Vidocq Society
To my fellow Vidocqians:
Not Nice Christmas Crimes
For the Year 2007, I wish
In Hamilton County, Ohio, two teens were arrested for
all of you and your loved ones
stabbing an inflatable 12-foot-tall Frosty the Snowman with
a year of happiness, health and
screwdrivers. The same Frosty had survived two previous
prosperity. In addition, I pray
stabbing attacks. In Anderson, South Carolina, David Allen
that everyone, in particular Rodgers, 42, was arrested for driving while intoxicated at
those who have lost someone the wheel of a float during the annual Christmas parade. At
to the violence that pervades his court hearing, Rodgers said, “I made a very bad judgment
our country, know peace. on my part.” According to The Catholic League, which tracks
As members of the Vidocq Society, we are blessed nativity vandalism, “crush crimes” occurred in 35 cities from
with being able to help in some way these people whose Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Mission Viejo, California.
More seriously, John Michael Barton, 55, dressed as Santa
sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, or friends have been
Claus with a stuffed Rudolph in his motorcycle sidecar
victims of unsolved murders.
abducted an 8-year-old girl outside a South Carolina
On February 2007, we will celebrate the 50 th
convenience store where the girl’s family had also stopped.
anniversary of the discovery of the unknown child,
After a chase at speeds of up to 80 mph, Barton was
known the world over as the “Boy in the Box.” I am
apprehended and returned the little girl.
hoping that this will be the year we can put a name on - CBS News Dec. 24, 2006
his tombstone at Ivy Hill Cemetery. In association with
US Government Creates a Wikipedia for Spies
this, I would to mention that the longtime creator and
The office of U.S. Intelligence announced introduction
Webmaster of the “America’s Unknown Child” website,
of a “top-secret web system” to allow thousands of intelli-
George Knowles passed away this December. May his
gence analysts and other officials to collaboratively add and
soul rest in peace; and as I picture in my mind George
edit content on the government’s classified Intelink. The new
in Heaven walking alongside of our unknown child, I system, called “Intellipedia,” is available to the 16 agencies
know it is. of the U.S. intelligence community, the Transportation Se-
curity Administration, and national laboratories. Less restric-
Have a great year.
tive versions exist for “secret” and “sensitive but unclassi-
Sincerely, fied” material. Although there are concerns about media
Bill Fleisher “leaks,” officials hope proper use of Intellipedia will help
avoid errors similar to those that led to the 2002 national
intelligence estimate that Saddam Hussein possessed stock-
Vidocq Society Journal piles of weapons of mass destruction. Intelligence officials
plan to provide access to Britain, Canada, Australia, and pos-
The Vidocq Journal © Copyright 2007
sibly China. Senior intelligence analyst Fred Hassani said,
Published by The Vidocq Society
“We’d hope to get down to the doctor in Shanghai who may
a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization
P.O. Box 40285, Continental Station have a useful contribution on avian flu.”
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
- MSNBC by way of Reuters, Oct 31, 2006
Commisioner
Man Stopped for DUI Continues Drinking
William L. Fleisher
During Arrest
Deputy Commissioners
Manchester New Hampshire police pulled over Patrick
Kenneth D. Freeman
Allain, 35, for driving drunk over the holidays. Allain
Fred A. Bornhofen
continued to drink a 40-ounce bottle of beer, telling officers,
Communications Office
“You can charge me with whatever you want it’s not going
Paul D. Plevakas, Editor
to stop me from drinking and driving.” Allain has been
Voice: (215) 545-1450 — Fax: (215) 545-1773
previously arrested four times for driving while intoxicated.
paudav1@earthlink.net — www.vidocq.org
-WMUR-TV, December 28 2006
The Vidocq Society Journal
Winter 2007 Page 3
Part III: Resources in Cold Case
New FDA Test Detects Fake Bioterror Agents
Researchers at the Food and Drug Administration’s Investigations
National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) are By Richard H. Walton, V.S.M.
developing a quick, cost-effective mass spectrometry test to
Cold case homicide investigation entails investigator
distinguish real bioterror agents from hoax materials. The
awareness and understanding of a plethora of issues and
testing is similar to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
avenues specific to the task of re-investigating these
fingerprint library for criminals. A researcher can take patterns
generated by a mass spectrometer’s analysis of a substance, crimes. These investigations build upon the previous
and compare them with a database of known substances for written record as well as the identification, collection,
immediate recognition. and retention of evidence, sometimes decades in the past.
-http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/606_bioterror.html Not uncommonly, review of a long dormant case
identifies evidence related issues, including evidence
Pennsylvania Man Arrested on a 23-Year-Old
that is missing, physically deteriorated, or biologically
Bench Warrant
Merle Hulbert Jr. said he had no idea his driving-while- corrupted. Among the most common instances are old
intoxicated charge was still open. Hulbert’s former attorney crime scene photos and audio/video tapes that have
has since died and McKean County Judge John Yoder noted faded or become inaudible, or articles with biological
that Ronald Reagan was president when the warrant for material that has degraded. Investigator awareness and
failing to appear at a hearing was issued. Judge Yoder ordered
utilization of additional investigative resources can help
the case to be scheduled for a plea and told prosecutors he
move a case forward toward resolution, or return it to
hopes they have a witness with a good memory.
the unsolved archives.
-The Bradford Era, http://www.bradfordera.com
Cold case investigations may utilize the same
What’s a Headway? investigative tools as those used for a hot homicide,
How much does a human head weigh? The average including criminal investigative analysis, geographic
human head weighs around 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds).
profiling, and wiretaps, but also forensic anthropology,
Another question is how do you weigh it? You can cut off
odontology, document examination and art, as well.
someone’s head and weigh it, but how can you weigh
Other resources in cold cases include:
someone’s head without cutting it off? One standard way to
weigh body parts is to measure the volume of the part by National Center for Missing and Exploited
immersing it in water to see the volume of water it displaces. Children (NCMEC) - http://www.ncmec.org
To measure the displacement of someone’s head, they must
Founded in 1984, this organization is a public-pri-
lower their head into a tub of water vertically and crown
vate partnership established as a national clearinghouse
downwards until the water reaches the base of the chin. The
and resource center on issues addressing missing/ex-
water needs to be as near to 0 degrees as the volunteer could
ploited children. A number of services are offered, in-
bear (to know the water density). The water that spills over
cluding 1) forensic age progression, reconstruction of
the sides of the experimental tub is collected and its volume
facial mages, and computer assistance in creating artist
measured. It is also good to repeat the immersion several
composites; 2) handwriting comparison and analysis;
times to make sure you have a repeatable result. Then you
can estimate the weight of the head from the volume of water 3) assistance in identification of children from confis-
displaced. This estimate is also based on charts and tables of cated child pornography; 4) no-cost DNA testing of child
average body weight compared to displaced water. or remains of persons estimated to be under 21 years of
age; 5) investigative assistance, including immediate
Forensic Terminology
assistance, long term case review, inter-state follow-up
Vital Reaction: When a skin injury is sustained while
including witness interview assistance, equipment and
the victim is still alive, a flush surrounds the injury due to
dilation of small vessels. An injury inflicted after death when technical support, and 6) family advocacy services, per-
circulation has stopped does not produce this flushing. sonal assistance, and media relations.
.
Continued on page 6
The Vidocq Society Journal
Page 4 Winter 2007
The Head in the Bucket: The Murder of Gregory May
answering machine picked up. Buman returned from
In January, 2001, Don May had not been able to
the Frontier Restaurant and heard the sound that
contact his father Gregory May. Gregory did not reply
"reminded her of drawers banging." She then went to
to his son’s telephone calls. It was customary for May
the property manager, George Volrath, and asked him
to call his son several times a month. Calls to friends of
to let her in the house. He declined because she did not
his fathers did lead to any information on his father's
live at the residence. She called the following Sunday
whereabouts. Gregory May had not called his daughter
and Julie Miller answered, telling her that Greg May
or ex-wife Sheila, as was customary.
had gone to Chicago. The following Wednesday, Buman
After three weeks of fruitless efforts to learn of their
returned to Bellevue and found the house empty the
father’s whereabouts Don and his sister Shannon
furniture and civil war memorabilia were gone. She
traveled to Bellevue, Iowa, to file a missing persons
never heard from Greg May again.
report with the Bellevue Police Department.
On March 1, 2001, Rick Rahn, special agent for the
Gregory May, 55 lived in Bellevue, Iowa. He was a
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was
collector of civil war memorabilia and Indian artifacts
called into the investigation by the Bellevue police
and a tattoo artist. He was divorced with a son and
Chief, Lynn Schwager. The investigators found Greg
daughter. In January 2001 Gregory May rented his
May’s 1996 red Chevrolet Blazer at an impound lot in
basement to his best friend of 30 years Douglas DeBruin
Aurora, Illinois. It was turned over to criminalists at the
and his girlfriend Julie Miller.
DCI for analysis.
Gregory and Sheila May were married in Kenosha,
As the investigation continued a fellow collector
Wisconsin, November 1965. They separated in 1976 and
notified Police Chief, Lynn Schwager that pieces from
were divorced in 1978. The divorce was amicable; there
May’s civil war collection were coming up for auction
was no custody battle over their two children or struggle
at the Rock Island Auction Company in Moline, Illinois.
over property. Gregory stayed in touch with his ex-wife
Armed with a list of the stolen items Police Chief, Lynn
by telephone and would visit her on holidays. Sheila
Schwager and Special Agent Rick Rahn notified Patrick
last saw Gregory on Christmas 1999. That is when he
Frances Hogan, the owner of the auction house, that the
told her he had moved to Bellevue.
items were stolen. Schwager arrived with a search
A police investigation found that Douglas DeBruin
warrant to seize the items.
and his girlfriend Julie Miller were the last people to
The seller of the items was Mary Klar. She said the
see Gregory May. DeBruin and Miller were seen packing
items were her uncle's. Whenever the auction house tried
May’s civil war memorabilia collection into a used Ford
to contact Mary Klar they always got Julie Johnson who
F750 Ryder truck Debruin had purchased. They had also
said she was handling the auction for her mother. Julie
gave away some of May’s furniture to a Bellevue
Johnson in reality was Julie Miller and Mary Klar was
resident, Jackie Cram.
her mother.
Investigators spoke with Jan Buman who had been
Debruin and Miller were arrested in Flagstaff,
dating Gregory May since July 2000. She knew Douglas
Arizona in April 2001 on outstanding warrants. Debruin
DeBruin and his girlfriend Julie Miller as May’s friends.
was still driving the Ryder truck. Investigators searched
The night of May’s murder, Buman was suppose to
the vehicle for evidence and found a weigh station ticket
meet May at his house at 8 p.m. She went to the back
that put them in close proximity to Kearney, Missouri
door and rang the doorbell, then tried the door with no
where the head was found.
reply. She peered through the window and through a
Evidence against Debruin and Miller mounted.
space below the shade she was able to see the lower
DeBruin was charged with first-degree murder and first-
half of Greg May sitting in a kitchen chair motionless
degree theft. Miller was charged with transporting stolen
and Julie Miller wiping something off the floor. She
property across state lines.
went to the Frontier restaurant and called the house. The
The Vidocq Society Journal
Winter 2007 Page 5
The Head in the Bucket: The Murder of Gregory May
During DeBruin’s trial Miller testified for the
prosecution that DeBruin had strangled May with a
yellow nylon rope on January 11, 2001. Calmly she
recalled the murder and subsequent dismemberment of
May: After he was killed, May’s body was carried to
the basement. The throat was cut draining the blood into
the laundry tub. May’s body was then cut up with a
knife and electric chainsaw. The body parts were
wrapped in plastic. The torso was weighted down and
thrown off the Savanna-Sabula Bridge in Illinois. The
other body parts were scattered north of Bellevue along
Highway 52. The head was placed in a five-gallon
bucket. DeBruin covered the head with his knit cap and
poured cement into the bucket and inserted a blue
Frank Bender's Bust
Photo of Gregory May
reflector in the cement. Miller admitted participating in
the dismemberment using a knife she would later discard
with the body parts.
DeBruin testified in his own defense claiming that Continued from page 1
Miller had killed May. His memory of the dismember-
Vidocq Society Annual Dinner Dedicated
ment was “gray” and he could not recall the details of
to Dr. Halbert Fillinger, MD, VSM
what took place.
After deliberating for two hours and 15 minutes the
as the Montgomery County Coroner working there since
jury returned a verdict of guilty in the murder of Gregory
1992. He was an assistant professor at Temple University
May. DeBruin was convicted of first-degree murder and
teaching criminalistics.
first-degree theft. Miller is serving a three-year sentence
During the presentation colleagues reminisced of
in federal prison for transporting stolen property across
his fortitude and bearing in standing up to attorneys who
state lines.
attempted to discredit him during his testimony as an
The identity of the skull found at Kearney Truck
expert witness. The opportunities he provided, giving
Plaza, in Kearney, Missouri remained a mystery. The
Frank Bender his first chance to create a forensic
tie between the murder of Gregory May and the skull
sculpture and the freedom for which he shared his
was not made until four years after his murder. Famed
knowledge in forensic pathology.
forensic sculptor Frank Bender of Philadelphia,
The memory of Dr. Halbert Fillinger will remain
Pennsylvania was asked to create a likeness from the
with us all, for those he has worked with, those he has
skull in the hopes of identifying the victim. The bust
taught, and for those who have not met but know of his
that Bender created was placed on the Doe Network
greatness through the memories of those he has touched.
website. The Doe network is an organization of
volunteers dedicated to helping law enforcement
connect missing persons with John/Jane cases. A
volunteer from the organization helped connect Frank
“veritas EST veritas”
Bender’s sculpture with a photograph of Gregory May.
The identity was confirmed through a comparison of
truth IS truth
dental records.
The Vidocq Society Journal
Page 6 Winter 2007
or missing persons. This fund offers assistance to
National Law Enforcement and Corrections
families without economic means to offer assistance to
Technology Center
law enforcement. www.carolesundfoundation.com.
This system is a program of the National Institute
of Justice, the research and development arm of the U.S.
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
Department of Justice, and is composed of a series of
One of the world’s leading forensic groups, this body
technical centers located across the nation. Each center
can provide potential sources of information and those
has a different technology focus and operates indepen-
with expertise in particular fields. http://www.aafs.org.
dently, yet support one another and exchange informa-
tion about their areas of special expertise. They may ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program)
Has been operated by the FBI since 1985. Through
assist cold case investigation by providing forensic
documentation and analysis of a variety of crime scene,
analysis of various forms of evidence as well as techni-
victim, and offender characteristics, this program seeks
cal assistance in audio or videotape enhancement, ex-
to identify patterns and link crimes heretofore not known
plosives and scenario verification. www.justnet.org.
to investigators and to provide a database of character-
Carol Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward
istics of homicides. Utilization of this tool is an impor-
Foundation
tant step in the beginning of a cold case investigation.
This fund was established as a result of the murders
Other well known resources include “America’s
of Carol Sund and her daughter Juli and their friend
Most Wanted” television show (www.amw.com). Cold
Silvina Pelosso at Yosemite National Park in 1999.
case investigators may also obtain assistance from the
Recognizing the role that media exposure and a reward
FBI as well as the United States Marshall’s Service and
played in the resolution of this case, this fund was
of course the Vidocq Society.
established to help law enforcement locate kidnapped
Solve the Mystery
What practice was carried out to determine the inner workings of the human body and as a torture in WWII?
If you know the answer email us at: paudav1@earthlink.net
Answer to October 2006 Mystery of the Month
If someone is faster than a speeding bullet how fast must they travel?
Bullet velocity is determined by the load of the cartridge, weight of the bullet, and barrel length. Other factors are dimensions in the
chamber, throat and start of the rifling that affect bullet velocity. Hand guns speeds vary: .32 S&W - 680 fps, .22 long rimfire - 1,125
fps compare to a .44 Remington Magnum - 1,610 fps. Game rifles: .458 Winchester - 2,040 fps compared to a .30/06 - 2,700 fps.
This is a sampling of some common bullets and proves that no one is faster than a speeding bullet.
The Vidocq Society
Post Office Box 40285
Continental Station
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
Vidocq Society Journal
Winter 2007
The Vidocq Society Journal
