Today’s newsletter is for our true crime fans:

From the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa to a string of child killings in the 1970s, some of Michigan’s most haunting murders remain unsolved decades later.

These cold cases continue to raise questions for investigators and communities.

Read on as The ’Gander’s Sophie Boudreau gives us a look at seven of the state’s most enduring true crime mysteries.

Then, we’ll get your take on the state’s biggest mysteries.

Gordie Howe Bridge ribbon cutting set for this week (The Detroit News): After eight years of construction, the new Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday. While the bridge is nearly complete and staffing is in place, officials say a final agreement between the US and Canada is still needed before traffic can begin using the $4.7 billion span.

Third inmate dies at Michigan women’s prison in less than a month (MLive): A 36-year-old woman incarcerated at Michigan’s Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility died June 6 after being transported from the prison’s medical unit to a hospital, marking the third inmate death at the facility in less than a month. The death has intensified scrutiny of the prison’s conditions, with lawmakers and advocates calling for reforms.

Grand Rapids to begin ‘restoring the rapids’ this summer (Bridge Michigan): Grand Rapids is starting a $26 million project to restore the rapids on the downtown Grand River by removing aging dams and improving fish habitat, safety, and public access through 2027. A key challenge remains preventing invasive sea lampreys from moving upstream, with plans for a new fish barrier still under development.

Know someone who needs more Michigan in their inbox?

Recommend The ’Gander to a friend, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a vintage Vernors can lamp. If your friend subscribes, they’ll be entered, too.

Dive into the details behind some of Michigan’s most enduring cold cases. (Unsplash)

By Sophie Boudreau

It’s easy to conflate true crime with pure entertainment. 

Many of us enjoy documentaries, podcasts, books, and internet speculation about gruesome murders and creepy cold cases, but we don’t always connect those incidents to our own lives (and, more importantly, the real lives of victims and their families). Examining cases from right here in our home state helps bring the reality of these tragic ordeals to life in new and frightening ways—even forcing us to consider the idea that many victims are “just like us.”

If you’re interested in exploring true crime through a close-to-home lens, read on to learn about some of the most unnerving unsolved murders from Michigan.

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

While we’re on a darker subject matter, let’s take a moment to pivot from true crime to other frights, because, if you ask me, there’s something special about telling scary stories while sitting around a summer fire, whether camping or just in a backyard.

So, this week, I want to know:

Reminder: When responding, include your first name and where you’re from to have your answer included.

Have a question you want me to ask our community? Send it my way. I might feature it in a future edition.

Missed the answers to last week’s question: “How concerned are you about the impact of social media on kids today?” Find them in our Friday newsletter here.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Sophie Boudreau. It was edited by Paula Solis.

The ’Gander is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.