The Robison Family Murders: An Unsolved Michigan Tragedy

The Discovery of the Robison Family Murders

• 💔 On July 22, 1968, local women discovered a horrific scene at the Robison family's lake cottage in Good Hart, Michigan, after noticing a strong, pungent odor.
• 🏠 Caretaker Monty Bliss forced entry into the cabin and found all six members of the Robison family murdered, with bodies in an advanced state of decomposition.
• 🌡️ The killer had deliberately turned on the furnace during the hot July weather, accelerating the decay of the bodies.
• 🔫 Autopsies revealed each family member was shot in the head with a 25 caliber bullet, and Richard and Susie were also struck with a hammer.

The Investigation and Prime Suspect

• ⏳ Police determined the murders likely occurred 27 days prior, around June 25, 1968, explaining the advanced decomposition.
• 💰 Richard Robison's business dealings revealed a sizable amount of money missing from his bank account, leading investigators to his second-in-command, Joseph Scolaro.
• 🕵️ Scolaro, a smooth salesman and skilled marksman, had no alibi for a 12-hour period on the day of the murders and owned weapons matching the calibers used.
• 🔫 Forensics matched 22 caliber casings found outside the cabin to Scolaro's family firing range, and he was known to possess both a 25 caliber Beretta and a 22 caliber rifle.

Mounting Evidence and Legal Hurdles

• 📊 Forensic accounting showed Scolaro had moved or stolen over $60,000 from Richard's accounts, equivalent to over $375,000 today.
• 🔍 A second autopsy on Richard Robison uncovered a missed 22 caliber bullet in his chest, suggesting he may have been shot from outside the cabin before the massacre inside.
• ⚖️ Despite extensive evidence, the local prosecutor declined to charge Scolaro due to a lack of fingerprints and the murder weapons, citing the high cost and uncertainty of a trial.

The Case Remains Unsolved

• 🔄 Years later, a new prosecutor reopened the case, believing Scolaro was responsible, which led to Scolaro taking his own life.
• 📝 In a suicide note, Scolaro admitted to being a liar and a cheat but denied murdering the Robisons.
• ❓ The case remains officially unsolved due to the lack of a conviction, though investigators and prosecutors widely believe Joseph Scolaro was the perpetrator.
• 🏠 The Robison family cabin was eventually demolished due to irreparable blood stains and odor, and the property has since been sold.