WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – More than 35 years after Beverly Wivell was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered, a man has been charged in connection with the crime.
Wivell was found dead on the side of the road in Superior Township in September 1989.
According to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, Wivell was sleeping in her vehicle in Canton Township after dropping her son off at school when she was abducted, sexually assaulted, and shot.
Her body was discovered on the side of the road, and her vehicle was later found still running with the driver’s door open and her purse inside.
“That day has been in my head since that day — as if it were yesterday. I would want her to meet my kids and [know] I’ve done the best I could and hope she was proud,” said her son Dale Swanson. “I felt alone even though I had family.”
DNA evidence from a rape kit completed in 1989 was sent for forensic genealogy testing in 2024.
The testing linked the DNA to Buster Robbins of Almont. Robbins is now facing charges for the rape and murder of Wivell. Prosecutors confirmed that Robbins and Wivell did not know each other.
1989 investigation
Detective Casey Luke with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office testified that on Sept. 18, 1989, deputies were sent to the area of Ford and Gotfredson roads for reports of a woman who had been shot and was found on the side of the road. Luke said investigators later identified the woman as Wivell.
She had been shot with a 45-caliber pistol. Her vehicle was discovered later that night in Canton Township. The vehicle was still running, the driver’s door was open, and her purse was inside.
“There was stuff going on, though she was divorcing my dad at the time, and my grandma wouldn’t let her bring her new boyfriend into the house. So she would stay out in the car with her, but she wasn’t living in her car,” Swanson said.
Luke said she had dropped Swanson off at school at 8:30 a.m. Deputies were called to the scene of the crime at 9:40 a.m.
A witness reported hearing a gunshot and seeing a blue vehicle, similar to a Chrysler New Yorker with a white top, speeding near the scene.
“From what I understand, there’s pretty damning evidence, and that it’s pretty clear certain, but for me, until that guilty verdict is heard, it won’t be done for me,” Swanson said.
DNA tested in January 2024
In January 2024, DNA taken from the rape kit completed on Wivell was sent to Michigan State Police, who sent it in for forensic genealogy testing. The testing led investigators to Robbins.
Investigators conducted several days of surveillance over a period of several weeks on Robbins’ home, where he lives with his wife. On Sept. 24, 2024, investigators collected several items, including used plastic straws, which were sent to the Michigan State Police lab for DNA comparison.
Forensic scientists found that DNA from one of the straws matched the DNA from the rape kit.
Investigators said that Robbins’ wife told them that in 1989, Robbins drove a vehicle that matched the description reported by the witness. They also found a 45-caliber magazine with ammunition in the home while conducting a search warrant.
Court appearance
Robbins was charged with felony murder. His attorney discussed bond conditions and argued to a judge last month that he has no criminal history and that he’s a father of four children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, recently retiring after 40 years.
“That hurt the most thinking that 35 years ago he did this and then carried on with his life like nothing happened,” Swanson said.
His bond was denied. Robbins is expected back in court on Feb. 13, 2025.
Robbins appeared briefly in court on Jan. 16, 2025, with his attorney, who stated that the prosecutor’s office is preparing evidence for the defense. Robbins’ bond was denied, and he is expected back in court on Feb. 13, 2025.
“It’s not every day that you actually get leads on cold cases from 1989, especially involving a homicide. It’s an example of just really good investigative work and also just the improvements in the way that we do things with technology and being able to accurately identify suspects through DNA.
It’s really a game-changer in a lot of ways. Our detective team then went to Lapeer County and was able to make an arrest in the situation… It gives you some hope that you can at least start to provide some answers.”
Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer
