*Cheri~Quest 4 Truth Of Justice*

During all this, two men from our own town, who knew and worked with the young man who was killed. Were arrested in Kentucky. They had gone on a 37 state crime spree of mayhem and murder. They were charged with the murder of a 64 year old gun shop clerk in Virginia, and then the murder of the young man that was killed, in Florida. The very same murder story that we had taken to our lawyers earlier. We knew then, that these two men were the murderers of the young man our son's were accused of killing. We knew our boys were coming home. What we didn't know is we were in for the fight of our lives, for our sons lives.

Our lawyers tried to get the confessions Thrown out. But the prosecutor wouldn't hear of it. Even though three of the Prosecutor's own witnesses turned on them and said the police also coerced them into testifying against our sons. All three of their witnesses claimed that the police made them say things that were not true. One of their witnesses was prosecuted later for drug charges for not testifying. We spoke with his parents later. And a reporter wrote a story on the tactics of the local police and how they harassed many teens and their families trying to get anything they could to implicate our sons. There never was any evidence of any kind putting our boys at the crime scene. Not finger prints, no DNA, no witnesses... Nothing.

What made the police go after our sons in the first place you might ask. Well a statement made by a young man who was a friend of the other two men now being held in Virginia. That young man had also worked with the young man who had been killed. But had been fired a week before the murder. This young man was in the parking lot the night of the murder. Questioned and released.

Our boys were at a bon fire the night of the murder. No where near town. We had 15 signed sworn statements. From our witnesses. But the police actually told 3 of them that they were interfering with a Federal investigation. And if they didn't want to be put in a jail cell next to our sons and charged as accessories then they better stop and go home.

When the murder weapon was then found on the two that were arrested in Kentucky. We again thought our boys would be coming home. But the prosecutor kept saying that he felt he had the right boys in jail, and would not hear anything else.

There was a "Walker Hearing" to show the validity of the confessions and to show that there was reasonable doubt.

Now the two down south when arrested, had 13 guns, all loaded, and had price tags still on them. They had stolen these guns from a gun shop in Virginia. Where they had killed the clerk. They also had a backpack filled with bloody clothes and two bloody hunting knives, false ID's and utensiles to make more, a road atlas with their route clearly marked, showing they had come back to Michigan, and red dots on all the places where they had murdered some one. One of those marks was on New Baltimore. The prosecutor said that the reason they had a red dot on our town was because it was their home town? The judge told the prosecutor to get a copy of the atlas. But he never did. And the judge let the charges against our boys stand. To our dissmay. They were going ahead with a murder trial against our sons.

Bail Denied

At that point all three of us Moms decided to take things into our own hands. And for the first time we felt we were in some sort of control. We got a hold of a reporter who we trusted and we got donations from family and friends and we went on a road trip down south to get the evidence we knew was there ourselves.

The reporter, her photographer, and us three Moms, all went in one car, to Kentucky and then to Virginia. We were able to speak with the Prosecutor and the defense lawyers of the two boys down south. And I will be Forever grateful to Them. They restored My Faith That not All Police officers and Prosecutors were Corrupt.

We found out that the Kentucky and Virginia Authorities had tried several times to get Michigan Authorities to come there and look at the evidence they had showing that their suspects very likely had committed the murder here, and that Michigan had the wrong people in jail.

We also learned that the Prosecutor here had gotten a statement from one of the boys down south, heard by an FBI agent that would've gotten our sons released. It was "Exculpatory Evidence". And he got it in ..his was now April. They also had the wallet of the young man who had been killed here. That the Prosecutor here tried to say my son had stolen the night of the crime. During the interrogation of my son. The police had my son describe a wallet*. My son described his own wallet.

However what we didn't know about the two young men down south, was that their trial was to start a day or so after we left. And that they were going to confess to the murder here. I'm sure the prosecutor knew this, because he went there. But he wasn't letting it out up here. The reporter found out and stayed behind to cover the trial.

We held a press conference ourselves when we returned. Telling everyone what we had found out. The prosecutor and the police chief here berated us and our trip, on TV. And denied all our claims. A week later after spending 178 days in jail. Our son's were released.

Jon Being Released From Jail

One Of The Happiest Days Of My Life!!

THE DAY JON CAME HOME!!

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A week after that the charges were dropped, "Without Prejudice"

Then We took a trip with our sons to our State Capital a week after, to speak on the need to "Video Tape All interrogations and subsequent confessions." Only three States had made it mandatory at that time.Michigan wasn't one of them and still to this day is not. Our county Prosecutor also spoke on the need. It was the first time we were on the same side. Had their interrogations and confessions been taped I might not be writing this story now.

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(Jon His 1st Day Home)

It's been 8 years since. And I can say our lives will never be the same. I am a diferent person now. I trust no one. I see so many flaws in our Judicial System. But this is my story, and that of my son, his friends and their families. I'm sorry it was so long. I actually condensed it quite a bit. I could tell you so much more of what I consider to be a conspiracy against our sons and our families. And the still on going problems we are all experiencing.

The worst is...Not Only Did The First Young Man Lose His Life Needlessly. But One year Later..So Did Frank, the young man who was in Jail 178 days with my son Jon. Was he himself, was murdered. Shortly after Our Boys filed a law suit against the Authorities here. It was on the very date of their arrest one year earlier. And the things we learned pertaining to his murder are in themselves frightening. If I wrote everything I'd end up writing a book.

This story is now Our story. It is a part of me. It is a part of my life, but not the end of it. We go on.

And it is true...."What Does Not Kill You.. Will Make You Stronger".

Thank You For Taking Time Out Of Your Day, To Read My Son, His Friends, Their Families,And Ours Story.

Cheryl A. Stepnioski

Mother Of An Innocent Young Man

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Jon,Dan,Jon's Dad,and I. The day Jon Came Home:)

I kept Our Christmas Tree Up Til Jon Came Home In April.I redecorated it For Easter,and would've done it again for The 4th Of July,if I had too! His Xmas Presents and Easter Basket were all under the tree. Waiting For Him ...I Knew He would be Coming Home

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**A Mother's Notes**

My Heart Will Always Go Out To The Family Of the Young Man Who Was So Needlessly Murdered. It Always Has, Though The Media Never Would Quote Me On that.

Also To The Mothers And Families Of the Two Young Men Who Really Did Commit This Crime. I Have Walked In Their Shoes

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I Thought Of This Song So Maany Times Through Out Jon's Ordeal. The Day He Came Home I Wanted To Blast It As Loud As I Could!!:)What A Great Song With So Much Meaning To Everyone Fighting For True Justice!! Take A Listen:)

*Seize The Day!*

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