Niles double murder ‘will be solved’

Published 10:59 am Thursday, February 18, 2010

By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

Since releasing a composite sketch of what police are calling a “person of interest” in the case of the murder of husband and wife John and Carolyn Tarwacki, Lt. Michael Brown with the Michigan State Police said detectives have received over 20 new tips and leads to aid them in their investigation.
“The mobile board has produced another 10 tips,” he said.

Police have since taken down the billboard they had set up between Carberry and Yankee Street and Brown said detectives are working hard to follow up on the tips generated over the weekend.

Friday will mark two weeks since the murders and police continue to not only search for the killer but hammer out a definite suspect in the case.

“We’re very confident that this case will be solved,” Brown said.

However, it may take some time, Brown said, in developing a motive for a crime.

“I really don’t have any indication that we’re getting closer to a motive, or anything to release on that,” Brown said Wednesday.

Police have fielded more than 280 tips since they found the Tarwackis dead in the their home on Feb. 5.

Even with no concrete developments in the case, Brown said that police have not backed down from the investigation.

“Right now we have nine detectives working full time on the case,” he said, in addition to rotating officers on patrol who are also helping out with the investigation.

“I would say it’s a large amount of manpower,” he said.

He’s also confident in the experience held by those detectives who have solved complicated cold cases in the past.

Brown said he encourages the public to continue coming forward with any information related to the case. The composite drawing released Friday, he said, was provided to police by a motorist in the area of Yankee on the morning police believe the Tarwackis were killed.

“Any tip can be the crucial tip that solves the case,” he said.