August 17, 2004

Tawas, Mich. -  State Police arrested Ronald Dwayne Brown, 45, for the 1993 murder of Charles Austin Murray of Chesterfield Township. Brown was arraigned today on charges of open murder, which carries a life sentence, and felony firearms, which carries a minimum five-year sentence.

Murray’s body was found in Iosco County in early October 1993. Detectives determined that Murray was bow hunting when he was shot out of a tree and cut down from his harness. Detectives analyzed the evidence and investigated several leads but were unable to identify a suspect at that time.

Further tips from the public in November 2003, led State Police detectives to Brown, who was serving a life sentence for first degree murder in the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility. Over a period of six months, a skilled detective used interviewing tactics suggested by the State Police Behavioral Science Section and Intelligence Unit, until he obtained a confession from Brown for the 1993 murder of Murray.

"The detective’s investigative skills, determination and willingness to seek assistance from the Behavioral Science Section and the Intelligence Unit were critical in solving this 11-year-old crime," said Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police. "The State Police is committed to utilizing all our resources to locate dangerous criminals no matter how long ago the crime took place."