These case are all discussed in the following and associated threads in the message boards : Task Force Investigation - Devlin Case Connections Thread Please look at all the information and add to it if you can either through the Boards, the tip report or the contactus form.
Any small piece of information may be of use or may even spark discussion on something bigger...
New Photo Released Of Michael Devlin (Without Beard) Do you remember seeing this man? Any information is still sought in the investigation.
OperationCyberTip Interview on News 960 AM WSBT Operation Find a Child, on six year missing child case 17th May 2007
OperationCyberTip Linked with story on 960 AM WSBT The Disappearance of Stevie Kraft MAY 17th 2007
Gas Receipts have been found which tie Devlin to the area around the time of Steven's dissappearance.
Above are locations of the major gas stations in the Benton Harbor area and onward to the Devlin property at Pentwater.
See forum entry http://www.operationfindachild.org/boards/posting.php?mode=quote&p=2652 for more details.
Latest Information from KMOV News - 15th May 2007
Devlins would stay in Pentwater for several weeks
No Physical evidence as yet
As a teenager Devlin would take family car alone
He would be gone for around 10-12 hours at a time
Gas receipts tie Devlin to area around time of Steven's dissappearance
Police have all of Devlins IMOs timesheets
POLICE NEED INFO FROM ANYONE THAT CAN REMEMBER DEVLIN IN MICHIGAN
POLICE NEED INFO ABOUT ANY VEHICLES HE DROVE TO MICHIGAN
Exclusive - KMOV News Channel 4 - Police consider Devlin a big lead in disappearance of Michigan boy
KMOV Channel 4 NEWS Aired 10:27 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Latest on Task Force Investigation into Steven Kraft Disappearance Task Force says Devlin may be connected with missing Michigan boy (KMOV News 4) April 24th 2007
Latest Information from KMOV News Clip - 24th April 2007
The Devlin Family OWN/OWNED the property in Pentwater
This means he may have visited MANY times at ANY time of the year
It is only a 2 hour drive from Benton Harbor
The property has been visited by Michigan State Police.
"He (Devlin) has been there more than once"
"He also visited alone"
They do not know what car he drove whilst in the area
"Did he go with family and borrow the family car?"
STILL looking for info on 1983 Silver/Grey Toyota pickup
The vehicle is being looked at in all cases
The investigation is very much still ONGOING
More Detailed Information on Steven Kraft's Dissappearance
Detailed Maps have been updated below
Kraft was last seen playing with his family's two dogs in the 2100 block of Holly Drive in Benton Harbor, Michigan on February 15, 2001, between seven and eight p.m. He was about half a block away from his residence in the 2100 block of Holly Drive at the time of his disappearance. He has never been heard from again. Kraft's mother was preparing dinner while he was out with their dogs and reported his disappearance afterwards.
Kraft's older dog returned to his family's house shortly after Kraft vanished. The dog apparently led his owners to a nearby pond, but no evidence of Kraft's whereabouts was located in the area. His puppy was found some time afterwards, near a creek.
Kraft completed a five-day suspension from Hull Elementary School shortly before his disappearance. School administrators stated that he defended himself against another student during an altercation. Both boys were suspended. Kraft is described as a good student and the incident marked the first time he was disciplined. He was in the sixth grade at the time of his disappearance. He lived on a dead-end street in Benton Harbor with little traffic, and was familiar with the area. Kraft has relatives living near his home and was well-known to the neighbors as well. His parents have since moved to Hagar Township, Michigan.
Authorities searched four miles of nearby Blue Creek and a pond behind Harbor Haven Ministries in May 2001, but failed to produce any evidence of Kraft's whereabouts. Investigators searched another area of woods near the Southwestern Michigan Regional Airport in November 2002, but no evidence was located. In February 2004, Kraft was reportedly seen at Midway Airport in Chicago, Illinois, but the individual sighted turned out to someone else.
Investigators have investigated various theories in Kraft's case, such as that he was abducted or ran away from home. No clues to his whereabouts have been discovered and Kraft's case remains unsolved.
Article taken from recent New Report (SouthBendTribune April 19. 2007 6:59AM )
Steven Kraft Jr. was 12 when he disappeared about 7 p.m. Feb. 15, 2001, in Benton Township.
Police are investigating whether Michael Devlin crossed paths with Steven while en route to the Devlin family vacation home in Pentwater, Mich., a Lake Michigan village between Ludington and Muskegon.
"His route of traffic would take him to I-94 and 196 and through Benton Harbor," said Benton Township Police Chief Vincent Fetke.
Interstate 94 and Interstate 196 intersect near where Steven was last seen walking two dogs.
Fetke said no evidence has surfaced so far linking the boy to Devlin, but authorities have not completed their investigation.
"We are sure he traveled through the area," Fetke said about Devlin.
"But from our understanding, the majority of the time the family used the Pentwater home was in the summer months," he said, pointing out that Steven came up missing in February.
Fetke said a family member or Devlin may have used the home in the winter months on occasion.
During a news conference Tuesday in Potosi, Mo., authorities mentioned Steven's case in saying that Devlin's trail of victims may not be limited to Missouri boys, according to television station KFVS.
"Steven Kraft was 12 years old and there's basically a lot of similarities to previous young men taken from this area," Sgt. Al Nothum with the Missouri Highway Patrol said at the news conference, according to a story on KFVS's Web site.
Nothum was speaking on behalf of a Special Task Force appointed to investigate Devlin, the TV station reported.
Local officials said it's their duty to examine Devlin's possible paths in Michigan.
"It's a long shot, but we'll take any tips we can to work on," Fetke said.
He added that if nothing materializes between the Devlin vacation home and Steven's case, much will be gained.
"It brings life back to the case," Fetke said, and gives the family reassurance that police "will not rest" until Steven's disappearance is solved.
Extensive searches in northern Berrien County failed to turn up any traces of the boy after his disappearance.
In November 2002, the search was concentrated on ponds in a wooded area near his home.
In July 2004, a $5,000 reward was posted for information about him.
Fetke said the case is open until it is solved.
"Until closure is brought every tip that is brought in will be investigated. That will never end," Fetke said.
Steven Earl Kraft, JR - Aged 12 years old
Benton Township, Michigan, on February 15, 2001 was last seen near his home. Kraft was out walking his two dogs between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. and failed to return home for dinner.
Date of Birth: January 11, 1989 Place of Birth: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sex: Male Hair: Sandy Brown
Height: 5'2" (at the time of his disappearance) Eyes: Green
Weight: 100 pounds (at the time of his disappearance)
THE DETAILS
Steven Earl Kraft, Jr. was last seen near his residence in
Benton Township, Michigan, on February 15, 2001. Kraft was out
walking his two dogs between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. and failed
to return home for dinner. Although his two dogs were subsequently
located, Kraft has not been seen since that time.
REMARKS
Steven Earl Kraft, Jr. Also known as "Stevie". He was last known to be wearing a blue-green
Charlotte Hornets basketball team jacket, a tan and white striped
t-shirt, tan parachute pants, and black boots.
Steven was last seen playing with his two dogs about a ½ block from his home at 7:45 pm. on Thursday, February 15, 2001. Last Seen Wearing: Tan pants; a white, tan, and brown striped shirt; an aqua and purple "Hornets" jacket and black "Lugz" boots. Steven has a small red birthmark on his left rib cage.
Age Prog to 15 years
Age Prog to 17 years
More Information on Steven Kraft and his Disappearance
Now a FBI task force is investigating whether Devlin is responsible for a number of kidnappings across the country, including the 2001 disappearance of 12-year-old Steven Kraft.
"They have done a travel time line of Devlin and they have put him in Michigan, West Michigan," said Al DiBrito, FBI Agent.
He continued, "If you run the location of missing children, Steven Kraft is obviously a high profile case and that is how you make the connect.
The FBI says Devlin's family regularly vacationed at a Pentwater, Michigan home, and that his travels would have taken him through the Benton Township area.
There is a catch, Steven went missing in February, while, according to the FBI, the Devlin's were typically in Pentwater during the summer.
Still Krafts sister, hopes the investigation will shed light on a dark situation.
"One minute you think that the worst has happened, and then you get glimmers of hope, as with the Missouri case that they are trying now," Jodi Bopp, Kraft's sister said, "And you think maybe someone has him, or maybe he is still there.
Jodi was 18 when Steven disappeared, the same age he would be now.
She tells us the past six years have been difficult for the whole family, especially her parents.
Steven Kraft Sr., Kraft's father said, "We have been through all kinds of stuff, I have searched about 100 some square miles of Berrien County, we have searched every inch of it we can get into."
While search efforts and investigations have not turned up anything so far, police and Steven's family say they welcome any attention.
Bopp said, "It keeps him in the back of peoples minds. It just keeps his face right there so if anyone does happen to see him, they can remember where they saw him.
The FBI and Benton Township Police say there is a possibility Devlin was traveling through Michigan at the time of Kraft's disappearance.
They tell us they will continue to investigate until the lead has been completely exhausted.
The FBI is looking at four other open cases, which happened in Minnesota, Illinois, and Missouri.
"His route of traffic would take him to I-94 and 196 and through Benton Harbor"
Showing intersection I94 and 196 and proximity to where Steven was last seen.
Close-up of where Steven last seen Harbor Haven Ministries - Red Arrow Hwy joins with 196
Steven's 6 month old puppy was found over a mile away 3 days later.
Close-up view and details of Steven's dissappearance
See Map Location G - in relation to Kirkwood, St.Louis
