BATTLE CREEK, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – Battle Creek Police Detective Scott Marshall says the October 1988 cold case murder of Gayle Barrus has been solved.
Marshall told the Battle Creek Enquirer that according to DNA results, Roger Plato raped and stabbed the 30-year-old Barrus to death.
The Battle Creek woman was last seen October 9, 1988 at the old Speed’s Koffee Shop on West Michigan Avenue. Her body was found by hunters 16 days later along River Road in Emmett Township.
Plato died before Barrus’ body was found. He was a suspect in another rape when police detectives tried to interview him. But Plato resisted police and was shot to death as he tried to flee.
Police at the time also questioned Richard Compton who was a friend of Plato’s but he denied anything about Barrus’ death. Compton died in 2009.
Marshall will file a report with the Calhoun County Prosecutors office so that the case can be officially closed.
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