Pubdate: Fri, 07 Sep 2001
Source: Herald-Palladium, The (MI)
Copyright: 2001 The Herald-Palladium
Contact:  http://www.heraldpalladium.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1378
Author: Mike Rupert, H-P Staff Writer

TETER: SHOOTING DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED

CASSOPOLIS -- Cass County Prosecutor Scott Teter promised Thursday to 
publicly release all information about police actions at Rainbow Farm as 
soon as possible after he sees final reports from the FBI and state police.

Teter said both agencies completed their investigation Thursday at the 
Vandalia campground, and he expects it will be at least two weeks before he 
sees the final reports.

"There is lots and lots of speculation as far as what actually transpired 
during the standoff and during the shootings themselves," said Teter, who 
said he could not answer specific questions regarding the deaths of Tom 
Crosslin and Rolland Rohm. "When we are able to assemble all of the reports 
and get the autopsies back, we will air those in the public with all of the 
evidence and text."

Teter said he has asked the Michigan Attorney General's office to join him 
in reviewing the reports and determining if the shootings were justified - 
although he was not mandated to do so.

"We're going to tell the families and tell the public so everybody 
understands exactly what the evidence shows happened," Teter said.

Terry Livermore, who is Rohm's stepfather, attended the news conference and 
expressed skepticism of the police version of the events leading to the 
shootings.

"I find it in my heart to forgive you," he told Teter. "But I believe it 
was an outright killing."

He said he can't believe his stepson and Crosslin would have set fire to 
the buildings at the campground.

"I can't believe the house was burned the way the FBI said it was," he added.

Livermore said he knew the campground as a fun place, not as haven for drug 
dealing, as Teter described it.

He said he and his wife are also upset they have been unable to see their 
13-year-old grandson, who had been removed from Rohm's custody.

Teter said Rohm's son will remain in foster care. "Our office will continue 
to be involved in the probate court case to make sure the best that can 
happen for the boy does," Teter said.

"I sympathize with the family," Teter said. "Many of them didn't have the 
opportunity to try to get them to come out, many of them didn't have a 
chance to say good-bye."

Teter said the future of the farm is also unclear, although he said 
forfeiture proceedings will still be pursued.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D