Webster Man Accuses Officer Of Murder
What information might a North Webster man have about a missing Tennessee woman that made him falsely accuse a local police officer of the woman’s murder? It’s a question authorities in both Indiana and Tennessee want answers to.
The accusations made by Michael Roy Wiggins, 32, have landed him behind bars on felony charges of obstruction of justice-making/using false record and felony false informing-alleging officer misconduct. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department detectives say Wiggins falsely accused North Webster Police Officer David May in the woman’s disappearance.
KCSD detectives were contacted last month regarding an investigation into allegations Wiggins made against Officer May. The case began when North Webster Town Marshal Greg Church was contacted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. Tennessee law enforcement officials said they were emailed information earlier in the month by Wiggins, of North Webster, who claimed he had information into the disappearance of Holly Bobo, 22, from Darden, Tenn.
In his communications with Tennessee officials, Wiggins accused Officer May of driving his department squad car to Tennessee, abducting Bobo with the use of tranquilizers, murdering her, and then burying her body on a farm in Kosciusko County.
KCSD detectives began the local investigation by verifying that Officer May was actually on duty and taking calls on the date Wiggins claimed he drove to Tennessee. Further investigation revealed that May’s mileage would not substantiate the accusations.
Investigators also discovered Wiggins had twice been arrested by Officer May. The first time was in October 2011 on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The most recent arrest, made just 8 days prior to Wiggins’ contact with Tennessee authorities, came last month for driving while suspended.
KCSD detectives concluded that Wiggins’ actions were in revenge toward Officer May and arrested him yesterday. Wiggins is currently being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department was assisted in the investigation by detectives from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
Holly Bobo was last seen on April 13, 2011, being led away from her home and into a wooded area in broad daylight by a man dressed in camouflage.
Just days after her disappearance, Mark Gwyn, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, told ABC News, “The person responsible for Holly’s disappearance lives in the area. Because of the terrain, you have to know where you’re going, entrances and exits. We feel the person is in the community.”
Sgt. Chad Hill of the KCSD said authorities in Tennessee and locally believe that Wiggins does not actually have information on Bobo’s disappearance, but instead learned of the case on the Internet. “He’s very fluent on the Internet,” Hill explained. “We don’t know why (he focused on her case), but she’s a high profile individual on the Internet.”
Hill added that cases of vengeful individuals against police officers are not common, especially in this area, although he added that less than one month ago a Syracuse woman was arrested and charged with making a false report against an Indiana State Police Trooper. (See story)
Jama Brown, 33, falsely accused a trooper of rape. During the investigation, police found no such officer by the name or description Brown alleged.
At this point, Hill said any information relating to the disappearance of Bobo should be directed to Tennessee authorities.