Dear Mr. Burdick;

ADAPT-Michigan has been watching with interest the investigation of Robert Wright’s homicide at the Mt.Pleasant Center. News accounts suggest the case has stalled and your office has asked police to continue the investigation. We believe your office needs to take a more aggressive approach.

When a CMU student was murdered relatively recently and the investigation faced uncooperative potential witnesses, you convened a Grand Jury. As ten months have passed since Mr. Wright’s death, we want to know – When will you convene a Grand Jury in an effort to resolve this homicide?

We are quite concerned as this has the potential to be yet another situation where disability devalues a person’s life in the eyes of the general public. The disability community struggles constantly to be treated with equal repect and dignity as those without disabilities.

We know how the Isabella County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office handles the homicide of a college student. We expect similar attention for the homicide of a vulnerable person with a disability residing in an institution.

We understand convening a Grand Jury doesn’t guarantee a successful prosecution. Nonetheless, it is very important to take this step.

Sincerely,

Scott Heinzman

ADAPT-MI