Ugly Episode From Some Time Ago

Ravine · May-26-10, 05:41 AM

Gang, I'm looking for a little assistance in remembering enough, about a certain incident, to enable me to Google up some info about the story.

It's a danged shame, that I can't remember any more detailed aspects of this story than I do, but here's what I have:

I will guess the year at around 1980, give or take a year, or two, in either direction.
At a motel, which I'm almost certain was on Telegraph Road, there was a stand-off between the police and a family, specifically a mother & her [[three?) sons. Of course, it came to an ugly end.

I'm hoping that-- barring the remote possibility that no such thing occurred, at all, and I'm channeling the memories of a non-existant person about an imaginary incident-- somebody here, on good ol' Elephant's Memory DetroitYes!, will be able to remember something about the incident, such as the name of the motel or the name of the family.

Thenk-que.

**Gary** · May-26-10, 06:13 AM

The incident was in 1987 at a motel on Michigan Ave. in Inkster. It involved Alberta Easter and her sons.

**Meddle** · May-26-10, 06:16 AM

There are no motels that I can think of on Telegraph in Detroit, so it would have had to have been Redford or Dearborn Heights or Taylor.

I seem to remember something on 8 Mile east of Telegraph, maybe near Lahser, but no details.

**Meddle** · May-26-10, 06:17 AM

Yeah, Alberta Easter was a mess.

The sons were both wanted for armed robbery or something.

**a100driver** · May-26-10, 06:43 AM

Yes, that's correct.
Alberta Easter and her two sons at the Bungalow Motel on Michigan Ave. in Inkster. If I remember correctly one of the sons had kidney issues. Also, Alberta kept telling the cops outside [[via phone) that she, her sons and the police that were inside the motel room were "negotiating" when in fact, both police officers were shot dead. Alberta Easter was a classic con artist from what I remember. I think that they were trying to start a recording company called Gold Soul Records or something like that. I believe the incident happened in early July 1988. I don't know why I remember this. I live[[d) on the east side, and knew nothing about that side of town. I guess I felt bad for those cops. Anyway, I hope this helps a little bit.

Here's a link: http://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/11/us...gan-motel.html

**kryptonite** · May-26-10, 06:55 AM

I remember that incident well. Alberta in particular made a circus of the trial, holding up her hands so the photographers from the media could see her handcuffs. Like anyone that would do something like her family did should be permitted to sit in a courtroom without restraints.

I don't recall the outcome of the trials, but I believe they were all convicted.

**Meddle** · May-26-10, 06:56 AM

As I remember she was sort of like Ma Barker. Crooked from birth and brought the family up crooked.

Ravine · May-26-10, 07:12 AM

Yes!! That is the one!!
Thanks, to Gary, Meddle, a100driver [[especially for the link,) & kryptonite.
And geez, I was way off on the year, huh.

**Just Amazed** · May-26-10, 09:59 AM

Alberta Easter [[91) is still listed on OTIS, was sentenced to 3 life sentenced in 09 1988

**MizMotown** · May-26-10, 11:10 AM

aka... Avon Bungalow Motel

still standing and open for prostitution lol

**MizMotown** · May-26-10, 11:12 AM

Wasn't there an incident at a motel on Plymouth Rd. in Redford or am I thinking of the same one?

DC48080 · May-26-10, 11:32 AM

Alberta Easter's birthday, June 8th, is the same as another famous convicted local criminal. None other than Kwame Malik Kilpatrick himself.

Alberta: http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=195995
Kwame: http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=702408

Everybody be sure to send him a birthday card.

**SWMAP** · May-26-10, 11:41 AM

Another episode from the dim past: can anyone help?

Sometime late 1960's or early 1970's a young man was murdered on Belle isle. I think he may have been there with wife and friends. He was childhood neighbor of my family. A Belgian last name. He grew up on Beniteau just north of Mack. His murder has been on my mind since the shooting on Mack and Beniteau two weeks ago. I remember how profoundly shocking the first murder was - how it changed the perception of safety and security for many east-siders who had thought such random violence not possible. Now murder seems part of the wallpaper.

I can't find anything about this. Does it ring a bell?

**agirlintheD** · May-26-10, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Just Amazed

Alberta Easter [[91) is still listed on OTIS, was sentenced to 3 life sentenced in 09 1988

Is she dead in that picture? Oh my!

I remember coming back from playing softball in Canton on the night of that shooting. It was a mess in that area of Michigan Avenue. Wow...it's been that long.

**gazhekwe** · May-26-10, 11:57 AM

Here are the sons, name of Lemons. The whole family was like a horror movie.

http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=195992

http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=195993

**agirlintheD** · May-26-10, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

Here are the sons, name of Lemons. The whole family was like a horror movie.

http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=195992

http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=195993

That's some fine parenting skills there!!!! Model citizens!

**Gistok** · May-26-10, 12:15 PM

One ugly episode in Detroit's past happened in 1967 to the brother of one of my classmates. Her brother, by the name of George Overman [[a 15 year old Finney High School band member), was stabbed to death inside Cobo Hall. A very sad story... the grieving family [[they now only had a daughter) moved away from Detroit after the incident to northern Michigan...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=1378,4534959

Scrolling thru the article is done by moving the little blue box on the right side of the tiny full page image.

IIRC, the reason for the stabbing was a robbery attempt. The kid refused to give up the $2 in pocket money he had on him.

**xphillipjrx** · May-26-10, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by DC48080

Alberta: http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis...cNumber=195995

I wonder how many other nursing home [[hospice) eligible prisoners are out there? The state should send her back to her family and free up some $$.

**rooms222** · May-26-10, 01:02 PM

Jet Magazine was on the Easter story:

http://books.google.com/books?id=nbE...Easter&f=false

**gazhekwe** · May-26-10, 01:20 PM

The state should send her back to her family and free up some $$.

Her family is in the pokey with her. [[post 15)

**R8RBOB** · May-26-10, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by rooms222

Jet Magazine was on the Easter story:

http://books.google.com/books?id=nbE...Easter&f=false

Thanks to the link to Jet. Only reminds me that 23 years have passed by.

**rooms222** · May-26-10, 02:53 PM

It is really nice that Life, Jet, and Ebony are all available in full on Google Books......

**gazhekwe** · May-26-10, 02:57 PM

Re: the other brother, George Lemons, he was on dialysis at the time of the crime. In 1989, the mother petitioned to visit him, because he was ill, but the request was denied because the sentence included that they be jailed separately and never see each other again.

**R8RBOB** · May-26-10, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

Re: the other brother, George Lemons, he was on dialysis at the time of the crime. In 1989, the mother petitioned to visit him, because he was ill, but the request was denied because the sentence included that they be jailed separately and never see each other again.

Now that was the ultimate punishment. To split them to the four winds. Each one never to see the others for the rest of their lives.

**gazhekwe** · May-26-10, 03:43 PM

I thought so at the time, too. The way they were situated, those men were completely dependent just like little toddlers. What a horrific situation. The whole thing started when the senior officer took hold of Mrs. Easter's arm. The boys went berserk.