In May of 1963, a young man named John R. Gibbons was working his shift as an attendant at the Leonard Service Station on Carpenter Road. At 21 years of age, he was in the prime of his life. Tragically, his life was cut short during a holdup at his place of work. A lone gunman, after taking $150 in cash, murdered Gibbons. The killing launched a significant investigation by the Washtenaw County Sheriff's men, who tirelessly worked the case.
The initial days of the investigation proved to
be fruitless, with law enforcement struggling to find concrete leads. A description of the suspect was eventually developed and circulated in the hopes of drawing out new information from the public. The community was shaken by the violent crime, and a reward of $1,000 was offered for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Gibbons's death. Despite the reward and the ongoing efforts of investigators, the case grew cold.
Months turned into almost a year, and it seemed as though the trail had gone completely cold. However, in February of 1964, a glimmer of hope emerged in the search for justice for John Gibbons. A suspect in the killing was located and held in a Tennessee jail. The breakthrough offered a potential end to the mystery that had plagued the community and the Gibbons family. Despite this promising development, the murder of John R. Gibbons remains listed as an unsolved crime.
