Midwest
Death of convicted murderer in Michigan reignites investigation into cold cases
- Michigan detectives are investigating unsolved homicides linked to convicted murderer Garry Artman who died in a prison hospital last week.
- Kent County sheriff’s detectives interviewed Artman before his death and gathered information that prompted the reopening of homicide cases.
- Police have connected Artman to a woman’s disappearance nearly 30 years ago.
Authorities in western Michigan are looking into missing persons cases and unsolved homicides after interviewing a convicted murderer and long-haul truck driver with terminal cancer who died last week in a prison hospital.
Kent County sheriff’s detectives questioned Garry Artman on three occasions before his death Thursday at a state Corrections health facility in Jackson, Michigan.
Kent County Lt. Eric Brunner said detectives “gleaned information” from their interviews with Artman and are collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to “connect the dots with missing pieces or homicide cases that are still open.”
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Brunner would not say which unsolved cases are being looked into or how many cases are being investigated, although police in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have tied Artman to a woman’s disappearance nearly 30 years ago.
Authorities in western Michigan are looking into missing persons cases and unsolved homicides after speaking with Garry Dean Artman, a convicted murderer and long-haul truck driver who died last week in his hospital bed. (Michigan Department of Corrections via AP)
“Interviews with Artman provided enough information to reasonably conclude he was involved in the 1995 disappearance of Cathleen Dennis but that it is very unlikely that Dennis’ body will ever be found,” a Grand Rapids police spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Grand Rapids detectives also met with Artman before his death and are trying to determine if he is connected to other missing persons or homicide cases in that city, the spokeswoman said in an email.
WOOD-TV first reported Artman was being investigated in other cases.
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John Pyrski, Artman’s court-appointed lawyer, told The Associated Press Wednesday that he didn’t know if Artman had committed other murders. But “if he did, I’m glad he made everything right in the end” by disclosing them, Pyrski added.
Artman, 66, had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. A Michigan jury in September convicted him of the 1996 rape and murder of Sharon Hammack, 29, in Kent County. He was sentenced in October to life in prison without parole.
Artman also faced murder charges in the 2006 slaying of Dusty Shuck, 24, in Maryland. Shuck was from Silver City, New Mexico. Her body was found near a truck stop along an interstate outside New Market, Maryland.
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Artman, who had been living in White Springs, Florida, was arrested in 2022 in Mississippi after Kent County investigators identified him as a suspect in Hammack’s slaying through DNA analyzed by a forensic genetic genealogist.
His DNA also matched DNA in Shuck’s slaying.
Kent County sheriff’s investigators later searched a storage unit in Florida believed to belong to Artman and found several pieces of women’s underwear that were seized for biological evidence to determine whether there were other victims, Maryland State Police said in a 2022 news release.
Artman previously served about a decade in Michigan prisons following convictions for criminal sexual conduct in 1981.
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Midwest
Noem puts Newsom on notice, vows California probe after Minnesota fraud bust
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned California Gov. Gavin Newsom that federal investigators are headed west after uncovering what she described as massive fraud in Minnesota public programs.
“We’re going to come to you, Governor Newsom, and we’re going to arrest every single individual that has ties to this kind of stealing of taxpayer dollars, and we will hold them accountable,” Noem said on “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Tuesday.
“We’ll bring them to justice.”
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Secretary Kristi Noem said she intends to investigate fraud in California under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune; Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)
Noem’s warning came one day after President Donald Trump called California “more corrupt than any place,” including Minnesota. Newsom responded Monday, saying he welcomes “partnering” with the president on the issue.
“If he has some unique insight and information, I look forward to partnering with him. Can’t stand fraud, can’t stand waste and abuse,” he told MS NOW.
Recent Homeland Security operations in Minnesota revealed widespread fraud tied to public assistance programs and saw “hundreds and hundreds” of arrests.
Noem said she thinks the scandal is “just the tip of the iceberg.”
“It is leading us to networks all over the country and overseas, and we’re gonna follow every single one of them.”
The fraud, which Noem called “unprecedented,” involved criminals allegedly siphoning money meant for Medicaid and developmental services to fund “luxury homes and vacations.”
She accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of ignoring warnings from state employees who raised concerns about fraudulent businesses and nonprofits collecting government funds, and said Democrats attempted to cover it up.
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Secretary Kristi Noem claims Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ignored state employees raising red flags about fraud. (Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The largest case, known as the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, centers on a Somali-linked nonprofit accused of exploiting federal child nutrition programs. More than 70 defendants have been charged to date.
Additional cases involve alleged fraud in Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program, an early autism services program, and the Integrated Community Supports program, which provides assistance and training to people with disabilities living independently in the community.
The investigations are being led by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, according to the Justice Department.
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Noem said the Minnesota operations also led to arrests for violent crimes, including murder and sexual assault.
“We arrested a murderer, someone who was extorting money in other countries and also sexual assault perpetrators, individuals who were attacking children,” Noem said.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
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Detroit, MI
Former Detroit Tigers starting pitcher is Rockies’ first signing of winter
DETROIT — Former Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen has signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Colorado Rockies.
It’s the first signing of the offseason for the Rockies under new president Paul DePodesta. The deal includes a $9 million club option for 2027.
It’s the fifth straight winter that Lorenzen has signed a one-year deal following a seven-season tenure with the Cincinnati Reds.
Lorenzen, who turned 34 this week, signed a free-agent deal with the Tigers before the 2023 season. He made 18 starts and was selected for his first appearance in the All-Star Game before being dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline for infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee.
After a strong start with his new team that included a no-hitter, Lorenzen was moved to the bullpen and pitched sparingly in the postseason.
He found a quiet reception on the free-agent market, agreeing to a discounted one-year deal with the Texas Rangers before the 2024 season. He was traded to the Royals at the deadline and pitched well down the stretch, going 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in 28 2/3 innings with his new team.
He re-signed with the Royals in 2025 and put together another solid season, posting a 4.64 ERA in 141 innings with 127 strikeouts and 39 walks.
Colorado is known as an unforgiving home for pitchers, and the Rockies lost a league-worst 119 games in 2025.
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Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee stabbing near 40th and McKinley; 1 wounded, 1 arrested
Milwaukee Police Department
MILWAUKEE – One person was taken to the hospital after a stabbing in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Jan. 7.
What we know:
According to Milwaukee police, a 26-year-old was stabbed around 7 p.m. near 40th and McKinley.
Milwaukee police arrested a suspect on the scene.
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What you can do:
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.
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