Body of missing GPP Woman found in Detroit

[Darkman]

MARCH 24, 2012 AT 1:00 AM

New twist in Bashara case
Police have more info on missing clothing; alibi proof missing

BY GEORGE HUNTER AND CHRISTINE FERRETTI THE DETROIT NEWS



Grosse Pointe Park— The mystery surrounding what happened to Jane Bashara's clothing after she was killed took a new twist Friday.

Michigan State Police officials said two weeks ago they hadn't received the garments the 56-year-old marketing executive wore when her strangled body was found Jan. 25 in the backseat of her sport-utility vehicle in a Detroit alley, although a Detroit Police spokeswoman insisted the clothing had been sent to the state laboratory.

On Friday, Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said one part of the mystery had been cleared up: "We finally were able to determine that the clothing was with the Detroit Police Department, but they hadn't sent it to the lab yet," Shaw said.

However, Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens said she's sticking with the statement she gave to The News on March 9: "There were items of clothing recovered from the body of Jane Bashara and sent to the MSP for testing."

Stephens said Friday. "At this time, we have no additional comment on this matter."

David Griem, attorney for the victim's husband Robert Bashara, who was named by Grosse Pointe Park Police Chief David Hiller as the only person of interest in the case, said investigators also failed to secure another key piece of evidence: Videotape which Griem claims would have supported his client's alibi that he was working at one of his rental properties when Jane Bashara was killed.

"The State Police crime lab never received [[Jane Bashara's) clothing," he said Friday, adding that police waited two months to retrieve surveillance video from cameras at buildings his client owns on Mack Avenue.

Griem said Bashara gave investigators his alibi a few days after the murder, and informed police that the buildings are equipped with two video cameras.

Griem said he assumed detectives had taken the video into custody, but he said two retired FBI agents hired by the family uncovered this week that the video was never released. The tapes have subsequently been recorded over, Griem said.

"None of the … agencies thought it was important to take into custody the videotape that could have cleared Robert Bashara," Griem said. Handyman Joe Gentz on Jan. 31 told Grosse Pointe Park police that Bashara had hired him to commit the murder...

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