State Police Sergeants Receive Meritorious Service Awards

Contact: Detective Lieutenant John H. Slenk, Fifth District Headquarters, (269) 657-6081

Agency: State Police

January 27, 2003

Lansing - The Michigan State Police Board of Awards is pleased to announce that Detective Sergeant George D. Pratt and retired Detective Sergeant Gary E. Shaffer have been awarded the Michigan State Police Meritorious Service Award. They are credited for diligence and perseverance under uncommon circumstances for going beyond what is typically expected of law enforcement officers.

On July 20, 1979, Diane Fay Chorba was reported missing by her relatives after not hearing from her for approximately two months. Her family was aware that she had moved to the Luther, Mich., area and was romantically involved with a married man.

Pratt and Shaffer were asked to interview the married man and his wife to try to determine the whereabouts of Chorba. During their interview, the married man and his wife told Pratt and Shaffer that Chorba had been the victim of the ill-fated flight 191, that crashed in Chicago, Ill. on May 25, 1979, destroying her body making it impossible to identify her. Before polygraph tests were conducted to verify their story, the family moved to Oregon.

In the following year, Pratt contacted the Oregon State Police and requested they re-interview the couple, which they did. However, further investigation proved unsuccessful, and once again they refused to take a polygraph test to support their story.

Several years later, Pratt and Shaffer learned that husband and wife had separated, and he again requested that Oregon State Police interview the two suspects. Once again, no new results surfaced.

In 1999, Pratt and Shaffer flew to Oregon to re-interview the suspects themselves. They decided to make an unannounced visit to the wife, which resulted in a complete confession implicating her ex-husband in the shooting death of Chorba. With assistance from the wife, her ex-husband was extradited back to Michigan where he was found guilty of Chorba’s murder.

In awarding the Meritorious Service Award, Pratt and Shaffer are credited for their perseverance in solving a 22-year-old murder. The Michigan State Police Board of Awards recognizes that if it were not for the dedication and professionalism of Pratt and Shaffer, this crime may have never been solved.

Pratt enlisted with the department in 1965, and was a graduate of the 59^th Trooper Recruit School. He has served at the Ypsilanti and West Branch posts, as well as working narcotics and organized crime for what is now the Criminal Investigation Division. In 1974, he was promoted to detective sergeant and in 1977, he was assigned to the Reed City Post. A native of Scottville, Pratt currently lives in Reed City.

Shaffer enlisted with the department in 1968, and was a graduate of the 70^th Trooper Recruit School. He retired from service in March 2001. A native of Haslett, Shaffer currently lives in Stevensville.

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