Michael Tapley’s Family Convinced he was Killed (word count =1365) By Karen Warnick The Western Watchmen
The family of Michael Tapley of Snowflake has not given up the search for the missing man, even though they feel they are the only ones doing the looking. They are pretty sure he was killed and are looking for the proof to make sure the killer doesn’t get away with it. Since February of this year, they have exhausted themselves and their resources, making countless trips to Snowflake and to Missouri, where he supposedly went missing. They will not give up until they have closure and are frustrated that the police think he is still alive and just wanted to disappear. There have only been a few articles written in the media and those stories didn’t tell the whole story, nor did they get all the facts right. The family has done everything possible to attract media attention to, hopefully, help them in finding the truth. The Western Watchmen will do a series of articles on this story in the hope that further information will be found. The following information was compiled by the family through their efforts to talk to everyone involved, including the police. Michael was last seen when he left work as a school bus driver in Snowflake on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Receipts found in his house indicate he stopped at the grocery store and Arby’s at around 5pm. He told his coworkers he would be working around the house on this 3 day weekend. On Tuesday, Feb. 19, Michael did not show up for work. His boss, Mike Robinson, tried to reach him several times by phone. Mr. Robinson was concerned, as this was out of character for Michael. He drove around looking for Michael’s house, but was unable to find it. When Michael didn’t show up for work the next day, he called the Navajo County Sheriff’s office and tried to file a missing person report. He was told a family member had to file the report. Mr. Robinson provided the emergency contact information. Deputy Jack Babb issued an “attempt to locate” and did a welfare check at Michael’s house, but found no one home and nothing suspicious. On Feb. 26, ten days after Michael was last seen, Mr. Robinson contacted Michael’s mother, Shirley Tapley, to see if she was aware of his whereabouts. It was the first time anyone in the family was aware he and Gina were missing. On Feb. 29 members of the family, including Michael’s daughter Christina Tapley conducted a search on their own. They went to an area in Coconino County where Michael liked to hunt. “We thought maybe he was out scouting for a hunting trip he had planned with our father,” said his sister Kim Palmer of Washington State. “It was possible he got lost or was stuck in a snowstorm.” The Coconino Sheriff sent up a helicopter to search, but nothing was found. Also on Feb. 29, Arizona authorities discovered family members of Gina living in Missouri. Gina’s mother was called on the telephone by Missouri police. There was no answer. Sgt. Troy Blunt of Lee’s Summit went to the residence of Elizabeth Bischofberger in Raymore. She stated that Gina was visiting her and she had gone out for cigarettes. Gina did not come back, and Sgt. Blunt was never able to make contact with Gina for an interview. On March 8, Gina was seen at a farmer’s market in Chandler by a former co-worker. This co-worker told Gina about the story of them missing that was reported in the news and urged her to contact the police. On March 10, Gina returned to Snowflake in a van and reported to the police. Gina’s Story This is the information the police gave to the family as to the story Gina tells about how Michael disappeared. She said he woke up with a headache on Feb. 19 and decided not to go to work. The next day, he decided to take her to Missouri to see her mother, who was supposedly ill. They left that day and traveled through Albuquerque, Wichita, and Kansas City, where they stopped at the Isle of Capris Casino. She dropped Michael off because she said he didn’t want to go to the hospital with her to see her mother. She later went to pick Michael up at the casino, but he wasn’t there. She claims to have tried to file a missing person report and they wouldn’t let her. She thought he would find his way back home to Arizona. Gina said Michael told her to get rid of the truck because it was not mechanically sound enough to get them back home and he thought they should give it to someone to “part out”. Later she said he told her they needed to get rid of it because they owed too much money on it. She stated that her family and children knew where she was the whole time. There are many things about Gina’s story that don’t ring true to the family. The family and Mr. Robinson are convinced that Michael would not take off with out telling anyone. He was a dedicated worker and had not missed a day of work in the year he had been there. He was short on money and was expecting a check from his father, due on Feb. 19, which was later returned to the family not cashed. Sgt Blunt, Gina’s mother, Chris Romero and Kyle Wolfley all reported seeing Gina in Missouri but not Michael. Records indicate that the truck was taken to a mechanic in Wichita to replace a fuel filter. The mechanic reported seeing Gina and Michael’s dog Lady, but never saw Michael. He stated that the cab of the truck was too full of stuff and he had a hard time getting in the truck to pull it into the work bay. Gina hated Michael’s dog. Michael left home without taking his GPS system, which he took everywhere. His binoculars, tennis shoes, hiking boots and winter coat were still at his house. In fact, when the family searched the cabin, it didn’t look like Michael had taken anything with him except his wallet and cell phone, neither of which has been found. Michael’s cell phone records were checked and he hasn’t used the phone since Feb. 15. Michael had his truck insurance set up specifically so that Gina could not drive it as she had wrecked several cars already. Michael’s sister Kim questions Gina’s story that Michael let her take the truck. He also was a pretty good mechanic and would have changed the fuel filter himself. She said the truck was paid for and had a clear title. “Why would he get rid of his only means of transportation hundreds of miles from home?” They also believe he would never go to a casino as he wasn’t much of a gambler and had little money. “Why would he drive Gina to Missouri to see her sick mother and not go with her to the hospital?” Video cameras at the casino were checked with no reported sightings of Michael, Gina or the truck. Michael called his dad Joe on Feb. 12th asking if the check could be sent a few days early because he needed the money. Why would he miss work and not cash the check he needed? There is a lot more to this story and many more unanswered questions. What happened to his truck and how did Gina get the van? Why didn’t Gina report Michael missing to his family? Why did Gina say her family knew where she was all along, but Michael’s family didn’t? If a woman’s husband went missing on a trip, why would she just leave and return back to Arizona but not go back to the home they were living in? If Michael and Gina were on this trip together, why were just her credit card and cell phone used? In the next issue of the Western Watchmen, we will attempt to answer some of these questions and report on more of the story. Contact the writer at karen@thewesternwatchmen.com |