mm ^¾¾¾ Hestlanft (Dbsmrer VOLUME 28 NUMBER 58 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31,1992 • WESTLAND, MICHIGAN . 48 PAGES FIFTY CENTS ^ Su'j-fL.in Cofnm j' ( ncn„ Co'pjrJ icn IN THE PAPER Clues on missing man sought aunt, Debbie Stubbs, said Tuesday. Presley, too," he said. "We just don't A Hilton Inn clerk in Ann Arbor re­ know." In the second week of the mysterious disappearance of ported that a man matching Elkins" TODAY a young Westland man, those who know him contin­ Though friends and relatives tried description came in recently to in­ to remain optimistic, they grew in­ ued to search to no avail for his whereabouts. quire about rates, but left without creasingly worried as Elkins' disap­ getting a room. pearance entered a second week and School break: What do kids do "She said he seemed distracted, on still no revealing clues had emerged BYDARREULCLEM Despite an intense hunt and a " the nervous side," Stubbs said. — not even a trace of his dark blue when they are enjoying a two- STAFF WRITER $10,000 reward, authorities remained Detective Dennis Shackelford of 1986 Ford EXP hatchback. week break from school?/3A An army of friends, relatives and baffled by the sudden disappearance "I'm more worried now because of of the 1989 John Glenn High School the Ingham County Sheriffs Depart­ authorities combed an 80-mile ment confirmed that authorities had how many days it has been," Elkins' stretch of back roads, malls, hospitals graduate — last seen when he left his girlfriend, 21-year-old Windy Parrino History buff dies: A local history uncle's Ingham County residence to received some possible leads — none and towns between Detroit and Dans- of which panned out. of Novi, said. "If we knew he was OK, and nature buff died unexpectedly ville this week as the search widened come home for the holidays. that would help. But not being able to at the age of 41./11A for Jeffrey Allan Elkins, a 21-year-old "This is the worst thing we've ever "We've had reports of sightings, Westland man missing since Dec. 23. experienced in our lives," Elkins' but there have been sightings of Elvis See MISSING, 2A SPORTS Staying in shape Year in review: A look back at the top 10 sports stories in Observer- land, the triumphs and tragedies, top performances and turnarounds. /IB ART EMANUELE/STAFF PHOTOGBAPHER ENTERTAINMENT Fitness stressed: The physical fitness facility at the Wayne-Westland Family YMCA is open to those who want to stay in shape. The facility, 827 W. Wayne Road, is open from 6 a.m. to 9:30p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3:30p.m. Saturday. There is Dance Ensemble: The Eisenhow­ no charge for Y members. Fee for non-members is $5 a day, which includes use of the swimming pool. er Dance Ensemble teams up with Pick of the Crop Dance and Music Ensemble in a joint concert of dance in Oakland University's Crash victim's homecoming expected today Varner Studio Theatre./AB BY DARRELL CLEM School junior who lost control of his wearing a seatbelt, police said. return him to the hospital that night, STAFF WRITER car on Newburgh near Cherry Hill in Edwards, 40, has remained in the his wife said. Family show: Neil Woodward, an Dennis Edwards, who fought for Westland, police said. University of Michigan Hospital in "That was the best present I've had award-winning multi-instrumen­ his life after his truck was hit head- Morrison's girlfriend, Melissa Ann Arbor since the crash, and his in years," she said. talist, singer, songwriter and folk on in a Nov. 16 crash, is expected to Thompson, 17, was killed in the pas­ condition has steadily improved. His On Christmas Day, Brenda Ed­ come home to his Westland wife and senger seat of his car. Morrison is wife had initially feared he might wards cooked her husband's favorite historian will present a family ori­ two daughters today. continuing to recover from leg injuries never regain his memory. foods — turkey, ham, stuffed cabbage ented show during the annual "He's excitsd about coming home," and had not returned to school before Edwards, a pipefitter at theGener- "and all of the trimmings," she said. Plymouth International Ice Sculp­ his wife, Brenda, said Monday, "just the holiday recess. al Motors Willow Run assembly She-hopes to help him regain the 30 knowing that he's going to be coming pounds that he has shed from his ture Spectacular. /5B A possible charge of negligent hom­ plant in Ypsilanti, has slowly re­ 24.7-pound frame since the accident. home for good is really helping him." icide is pending against him in juve­ gained some of his memory. But his Edwards' recovery from severe head only knowledge of the crash steins Doctors also let Edwards come nile court, Westland police said. But home briefly on the two days after injuries has been virtually miracu­ the bereaved family of Thompson — from what he has been told by family lous considering that he didn't recog­ members, his wife said. Christmas, but the family had to re­ BUSINESS a popular John Glenn student leader turn him to the hospital each night. nize his family — or even know his — has expressed hope that Morrison own identity — for 19 days after the Edwards could face speech and Brenda Edwards said she is still won't be held responsible for the girl's looking forward to the day that she accident. death. physical therapy for months* and he Customer focus: When a compa­ "He has shocked everybody," his can't yet walk on his broken left leg, and her husband will be able to get ny designs a 22,000-square-foot wife said. Morrison lost control when his car Brenda Edwards said. out of town for a few days to celebrate Edwards, alone in his Chevrolet left the pavement as he tried to merge "But he's doing real good," she their 20th wedding, anniversary, display set for the auto show, it pickup, was slammed head-on by a from two lanes of traffic to one on said. which was Dec. 14. The couple had has to walk a fine line between Geo Prizm driven by Brian Morrison, Newburgh, police said. Neither Mor­ Doctors let Edwards come home for been planning a getaway before the highlighting the set and highlight­ a 16-year-old John Glenn High rison, Thompson nor Edwards was Christmas, though his family had to accident. ing the cars./8B Murder trial juries to deliberate after holidays SUBURBAN LIFE BY DARRELL CLEM 1991, shooting death of 19-year-old where Stevenson, Cowen and Hister Hood said. Adkins just happened to STAFF WRITER Everett Earl Bowen Jr. of Westland. went to school. Ingram attended the be there, he said. A look ahead: The New Year has Separate juries deciding the fate of Bowen was killed at night behind Cherry Hill Alternative Center. Stevenson's fate could hinge on Westland murder defendants Jer- Adams Junior High School. The most dramatic testimony in whether his jury believes or rejects arrived and with it plenty of maine Stevenson and Jerome Omar Stevenson's and Ingram's trials em­ his police statement. His attorney, Wayne County Assistant Prosecu­ James Anderson, has contended that changes — those we know about Ingram are expected to reach their tor Robert Hood has accused the erged the Monday before Christmas, and those that can be found verdicts within the next two weeks. when a Westland police sergeant read Stevenson was coerced into confess­ teens of conspiring with Ian Bruce ing to the double shooting. Cowen and Gregory Hister, both 17 aloud in court a 12-page confession among the stars and planets, Detroit Recorder's Court Judge that Stevenson allegedly made. In addressing the jury, Anderson Denise Page Hood recessed the juries and of Westland, to kill Bowen in re­ thanks to astrologer Evelyn Stevenson admitted he fired the questioned why Nowaczck wrote out Dec. 23 for the holidays, but ordered taliation for an earlier fight between Stevenson's statement, when numer­ Button./lC them to return early next month to Bowen and Cowen. two shots that hit Bowen in the face and back, Sgt. Russell Nowaczck tes­ ous other witnesses were allowed to continue their deliberations. Cowen and Hister, both 16 when write their own accounts. Anderson Ingram's jury is expected to return tified. Stevenson also confessed to charged, have already been convicted shooting Bowen's friend, 20-year-old has suggested bias in Stevenson's to court Monday, and Stevenson's of lesser charges and placed in juve­ statement and accused police of INDEX jury has been scheduled to resume David Wayne Adkins of Westland, in nile facilities until age 21, though the head. weaving their version of events into it. deliberations a week later. they could be released at age 19. Anderson also accused police of de­ Building scene .3D Personal scene . 7E The defendants, both 19, are Bowen's killing stunned residents The defendants had arranged to ciding Stevenson's guilt even before Business . 8B Creative Living . ID charged with first-degree murder and near Adams school and sent shock meet Bowen behind Adams school for he had been questioned about Calendar . 12A Crossword . .6D conspiracy to murder in the Nov. 15, waves through John Glenn High, a supposed drug deal, prosecutor Bowen's murder. Classifieds . D-G Entertainment. 4-6B Auto .... D,E Opinion . 12A Sports . IB Employment . .E first four-year term. The program is open to the .