In the spring of 1984, a journey with an antique car turned tragic for Dean R. Bultema, a 28-year-old male from Wimbledon, North Dakota. On April 15th of that year, his path unfortunately crossed with that of a serial killer, Richard Norbert Clarey Jr., at a rest stop in New Buffalo, Michigan. Bultema was in the process of transporting a vintage automobile he intended to sell in Owosso.
It was at this roadside stop that his life was violently cut short.
Clarey, who was fleeing after committing another murder and crashing a stolen vehicle, encountered Bultema and another man, Floyd Holmes. In a desperate attempt to secure new transportation, Clarey shot and killed both men. After the shootings, Clarey attempted to flee in Bultema's truck but got it stuck in the mud at the rest area. He then abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot, crossing state lines into Indiana.
The manhunt for Clarey involved a significant law enforcement presence from both Michigan and Indiana, including police helicopters and canine units. A few hours later, he was discovered hiding in the attic of a garage in La Porte, Indiana, and was arrested without incident. Following his capture, Clarey confessed to the murder of Robert Baranski, which he had committed just before encountering Holmes and Bultema. He was subsequently arraigned on murder charges for the deaths at the rest stop.
Richard Norbert Clarey Jr. was put on trial for the murders of Floyd Holmes and Dean Bultema in December 1984. During the trial, a psychologist testified that Clarey suffered from several mental disorders, including periodic schizophrenia. Despite this, a videotaped confession and testimony from over 50 witnesses solidified the case against him. On December 21, 1984, he was found guilty and received mandatory life imprisonment sentences. Two months later, Clarey pleaded guilty to the murder of Robert Baranski and received another life sentence. He remains incarcerated for his crimes.
