Naman Shrestha
In September 1989, a 30-year-old mother named Beverly Ann Wivell was brutally killed in Canton Township, Michigan. The harrowing crime left the entire community shocked, while Beverly’s loved ones were taken over by grief and the desire for justice. However, the investigation bore no immediate fruit as it would take the detectives several decades to crack the case open. DNA evidence from the crime scene eventually led the investigators right to the doorstep of the perpetrator as shocking truths came to the surface. The entire case is covered in detail in the episode titled ‘Grandpa’s an Assassin’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks.’
Beverly Wivell’s Remains Were Discovered on the Side of a Road in Superior Township
On October 14, 1958, Beverly Ann Wivell was born in a nurturing and warm household packed with echoes of laughter and joy in abundance. She was raised by her loving parents in the company of her half-sister, Jacqueline Meggison, with whom she seemingly shared a close-knit relationship. Beverly grew into a free-spirited and resilient individual who would light up every room she walked into due to her amiable and magnetic presence. She often stayed in her own lane, never garnering unwanted attention. Though not much is known about her academic and professional background as well as her personal journey into adulthood, we know that she had her first and only child, Dale Swanson, when she was around 18 or 19. From what we can tell, Beverly’s son was born around 1977.
The details about Dale’s biological father are not public knowledge. For many years, it was likely just Beverly taking care of her son. Things changed at some point when the mother of one tied the knot with someone she realized she could spend her life with, and who would embrace her son as his own. However, cracks reportedly developed in the relationship after a while. By the time 1989 rolled around, she was reportedly in the middle of the divorce proceedings. During the difficult time, her family reached out to her for support, and she reportedly divided her time between staying at the home of her parents and sister. Nevertheless, there are contrasting reports that allege she was actually living in her car during the period.
A resident of Canton Township in Wayne County, Michigan, Beverly was a doting mother whose life revolved around her 12-year-old son. She ensured he had everything he needed and often dropped him off at his school in the locality. The day of September 18, 1989, started as an ordinary one for Beverly, who got her son ready for school and waved him goodbye as he entered the gates of the school around 8:30 am. What the preteen never could’ve imagined was that it would be the last time he saw his mother alive. Just over an hour later, around 9:40 am, the police received a call in relation to the discovery of a wounded individual along Gotfredson Road, not far from Ford Road, in Superior Township, Washtenaw County.
The person was soon identified as Beverly Wivell, who lived just about 10 minutes away in Canton Township. Upon examination, it was determined that she had sustained gunshot wound/s from a 45-caliber pistol on the left part of her body. Furthermore, the condition of her legs indicated that at least one passing vehicle ran over and crushed them. Since she was in a critical state, the authorities wasted no time in rushing her to St Joseph Mercy Hospital for treatment. A rape kit was administered and it was determined that she was abducted from her car and sexually assaulted. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the medical center. Later that night, the authorities retrieved her car from Griffin Park. To their surprise, the driver’s door was left ajar and the car was still running. They also found her purse in the car. The medical examiners also collected DNA evidence. An investigation into the shooting, abduction, and sexual assault of Beverly Wivell was launched.
Beverly Wivell’s Alleged Killer Was Apprehended Decades Later
Upon interviewing a few witnesses, the authorities were told that a blue vehicle with a white top was seen speeding near the scene of the crime. However, neither that nor other pieces of evidence helped the detectives identify a suspect in the case. Thus, the murder case of 30-year-old Beverly Wivell went unsolved for several decades. More than three decades later, in 2022, the case was reopened with high hopes that new and advanced investigative techniques would allow the authorities to get to the bottom of the gruesome murder. In January 2024, the DNA evidence that was collected from the crime scene was submitted to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas, for forensic genealogy testing.
At the laboratory, scientists managed to come up with a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect, which further provided new leads to the authorities. The testing directly linked the DNA to Buster Robbins, who was then considered a prime suspect in the case. In order to get an incriminating piece of evidence against him, the detectives surveilled him for several weeks. On September 24, 2024, they collected several items with his DNA on them, including used plastic straws. All the items were further sent to the Michigan State Police laboratory for DNA comparison. The DNA from one of the straws matched the DNA evidence found at the crime scene, directly linking Buster to the 1989 murder of Beverly Wivell.
With enough evidence against him, Buster was arrested in Almont, Michigan, where he lived with his wife. Upon interviewing her, she told the detectives that around 1989, he used to own a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect’s car. When the investigators searched his house, they also found a 45-caliber magazine with ammunition, another connection with the crime. On January 3, 2025, 69-year-old Buster Robbins was officially arraigned on a felony murder charge and ordered that he be held without bond. The accused’s defense attorney stated, “We are in the process of obtaining the voluminous discovery material. Upon receipt, we plan on vigorously defending Mr. Robbins, who steadfastly maintains his innocence.”
Buster Robbins is Currently Out on Bond, Awaiting His Trial
On May 15, 2025, Buster Robbins’ motion hearing took place. During the hearing, the prosecution suggested that he was a flight risk and should not be given bond because he was also accused of other crimes, including child pornography. Meanwhile, the defense argued that there is hardly anything concrete against the defendant that could connect him to the murder. Claiming that the DNA sample did not prove if the contact between him and Beverly was consensual or not, the defense requested to let him out on bond. Several members of Beverly’s family were also in attendance at the motion hearing. Her niece, Phyllis Meggison, took the stand and stated, “He’s been able to live a life for 35 years, she hasn’t. I’m scared he’s gonna get off.”
Meanwhile, Beverly’s half-sister, Jacqueline Meggison, said, “I just hope and pray that his daughter, that he’s going to be staying with, has her eyes on her children all of the time. We don’t want more babies hurt.” Ultimately, Buster was given a $5 million bond and ordered to live with his daughter and have a GPS tether attached to him at all times. When the prosecution filed an appeal, the judge concluded, “The district court appears to have erred by only considering direct evidence, while not acknowledging the circumstantial evidence and that it provided a sufficient basis to make a person of ordinary caution and prudence, conscientiously obtaining belief of the defendant’s guilt. This was an abuse of the district court’s discretion.” Thus, on May 20, the judge moved the case back to district court. A few weeks later, on June 10, his case was bound to circuit court while his bond continued. He is scheduled to return to court on July 31, 2025.
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