Cold Case Team
The Cold Case Team (CCT) is investigating and/or assisting in the investigation of cold case homicides that occurred in Livingston County. The Team is voluntarily staffed by Deputy Robert Getschman, Deputy, William Lenaghan, and Deputy Edwin Moore.
If you have any information regarding the cold cases listed below, please call (517) 540-7880 or email coldcasetips@livgov.com.
Barbra Davis, 1966
- The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Team is investigating the homicide and sexual assault of 32-year-old Barbara Louise Davis that occurred on September 14, 1966.
- Barbara was last seen alive at about 2:30 p.m., after being dropped off from a shopping trip by her friend.
- Barbara’s 13-year-old son was dropped at the residence by the school bus just before 3:00 p.m. and the incident was subsequently reported by him.
- Numerous interviews were conducted by the original team of investigators, and we are currently following up with DNA analysis to identify a potential suspect.
SOLVED FEBRUARY 2023
Christine Castiglione, 1983
Case Details
- Christine lived in Redford, MI and was 19 years old at the time of her death.
- Christine was last seen walking Westbound on 5 Mile near Lola Park in Redford on 03/19/1983 between 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
- Her body was found on State land near the intersection of Fisher and Faussett Roads near the Village of Oak Grove after a heavy snowfall and the start of the snow melting. She was reported to the Sheriff’s Office who is investigating the homicide.
- Based on scene evidence, it appear that Christine’s body was left at this location prior to the snowfall shortly after she was last seen in Redford.
- Numerous people were interviewed as well as lab and DNA work being done.
Case Resolution
- For nearly 40 years, the Livingston County Cold Case Team and Detectives worked extensively on the case and pursued an extensive number of potential leads.
- In March 2022, the Sheriff’s Office applied for and received grant funding through Season of Justice to conduct advanced DNA testing on the suspect DNA samples taken in 1983.
- In May 2022, the DNA samples were sent to Othram Inc., a private forensic laboratory in Texas. The genealogical profile produced investigative leads, which our Cold Case Team used to identify a suspect.
- Confirmed by three separate familial DNA comparison tests, Charles David Shaw was identified as the suspect. Unfortunately, Shaw died in November 1983 and will never be held responsible for his crime in a court of law.
Paige Renkoski, 1990
- Paige lived in the Lansing / DeWitt area and was 30 years old at the time of her disappearance/death.
- On 05/24/1990 Paige drove her mother to Metro Airport and then visited with a friend that lived in the Canton, MI area. She left her friends home at about 2:00 p.m.
- At about 7:48 p.m. on the same date, Paige’s silver/gray Oldsmobile 2-door was found on the Westbound side of I-96 East of Fowlerville Rd. on the shoulder. The car was running and the windshield wipers were on due to a rain storm. Paige’s purse and shoes were inside of the vehicle. The discovery of the unattended vehicle and Paige being missing was reported to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
- Several locations have been searched using search crews, cadaver dogs, ground penetrating radar and other methods. Neither Paige or her remains have been located.
- Over 1,000 tips have been received and investigated since her disappearance.
Michael Painter, 1975
- Michael Painter lived in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. He was 18 years old at the time of his death.
- He was last seen about 5:00 p.m. on March 6, 1975 by a friend in Dearborn Heights. Painter was in his car with an unknown male.
- There are no known ties between Dearborn Heights and Livingston County.
- On March 7, 1975 at 7:45 a.m. the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office responded to Curdy Road in Oceola Township as a bus driver had observed a body in a field.
- Michael Painter’s car was found on March 14, 1975 in a parking lot behind an apartment complex in Detroit.
- It appears that Michael’s body was left in the field after a snowfall.
- As of this date several people have been interviewed and items have been sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab.
