Long before Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean retreat, there was another island where the most depraved acts against children took place in absolute secrecy.
And like Epstein, its owner was a rich and powerful member of the elite hiding in plain sight.
Keenan’s research points to the possibility that those involved in the North Fox Island ring may have played a role in the killings.
His name was Francis D. Shelden, a Yale graduate and member of an Ann Arbor, Michigan, family. He also had penchant for violating little kids.
Shelden was the owner of North Fox Island, a secluded location in Lake Michigan used as a base for a child exploitation ring during the 1970s. Much like Epstein, Shelden projected an image of philanthropy and boasted his influence and connections to mask his predatory actions.
It helped that North Fox was remote enough to be essentially lawless territory, known as a place where the rich could engage in criminal activities without fear of reprisal. Shelden used his sizable wealth to insulate himself from prosecution for years despite mounting evidence of his involvement in a large-scale sex trafficking ring.
Money talks, after all — especially when it comes to matters of corruption and coercion.
In "The Snow Killings," Marney Rich Keenan connects the unsolved case of the Oakland County Child Killer, who terrorized Michigan in the 1970s, to the sinister events taking place on North Fox Island.
The Oakland County murders, also known as "the Snow Killings," took place between 1976 and 1977. They involved the abduction, torture, and murder of four children: Mark Stebbins, Jill Robinson, Kristine Mihelich, and Timothy King. These abductions left the community paralyzed with fear, and the discovery of the victims’ bodies in snow-covered locations gave the case its eerie name.
The investigation into these killings uncovered links to a darker, more insidious network of child exploitation. Under the guise of running a charitable organization, Brother Paul’s Children’s Mission, Shelden and his associates lured young boys to the island under the pretense of offering them summer camp experiences. In reality, Shelden's island was a hub for child pornography production, where boys were sexually abused on camera for distribution.
Keenan's extensive exploration reveals key figures who were central to the exploitation ring. Although Shelden was the mastermind behind the island’s operations, he didn’t operate alone. Beasts like him rarely do.
His associate, schoolteacher Gerald Richards, was deeply involved in recruiting boys for the camps and filming the abuse. Richards’ arrest in 1976 for molestation opened the door for investigators to begin uncovering the operations on the island.
Sadly, Shelden managed to escape prosecution by fleeing the country before authorities could apprehend him. Another key figure, Dyer Grossman, was similarly implicated in the abuse. But just like the ringmaster, he disappeared as the investigation began to deepen.
The nature of the child exploitation on North Fox was far-reaching, extending beyond Michigan’s borders. The materials produced on the island were distributed across state lines and even internationally, making the ring part of a larger, more organized network of child exploitation. Richards, who cooperated with authorities after his arrest, provided key insights into how the island operated and the extent of the abuse.
As for the Oakland County Child Killer, after decades on the case, it remains unsolved. But Keenan’s research points to the possibility that those involved in the North Fox Island ring may have played a role, either directly or indirectly, in the killings.
The parallels between Shelden and Epstein highlight a disturbing reality. Specifically, how the top 1% appear to play by a different set of rules, or no rules at all. Meanwhile, their victims — children whose lives were brutally cut short or permanently altered — were failed (and continue to be failed) by a system designed to protect the rich rather than seek justice.
This brings us to a rather important point that really needs to be emphasized.
The United States, despite its claim to being the greatest country in the world, offers its most vulnerable citizens frighteningly little protection. Across the country, a child goes missing or is abducted every 40 seconds. That’s more than 2,000 kids every single day.
Each year, around 840,000 children are reported missing. In the land of opportunity, where well over a million pedophiles reside, children become fodder for the most perverted people imaginable. Their suffering finds itself buried beneath bureaucratic incompetence, unearned privilege, and deafening silence.
Remember, behind every statistic is a shattered family, a broken home, and a desperate plea for answers that may never come. Epstein is dead. Shelden evaded justice. The Oakland County killings were never solved.
And yet, the system that allowed these fiends to flourish remains unchanged. The machinery that protects the predators and forsakes the prey grinds on, indifferent to the suffering left in its wake. Laws may shift, investigations may stall, but the core dysfunction — the rot at the heart of it all — persists.
Every man has a hobby or two. Some, like stamp collecting or bowling, reveal very little about his character. Others ... well, let me point you in the direction of Donald Barr, father of former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr.
When Donald wasn’t doing his 9-to-5 work as headmaster at the exclusive New York City private school Dalton, he was busy writing some rather peculiar science fiction. His 1973 novel, "Space Relations: A Slightly Gothic Interplanetary Tale," envisions a universe where the elite indulge in the most depraved of activities.
To this day, with the exception of Ghislaine Maxwell, not a single person linked to Jeffrey Epstein has faced arrest or prosecution.
On the planet Kossar, trafficking, sexual debauchery, and the enslavement of human beings are the norm. The ruling oligarchs treat people as commodities, breeding sex slaves and subjecting them to hormone manipulation to satisfy their perverse desires.
This reads very much like a sci-fi version of Jeffrey Epstein’s real-life empire of exploitation, with all manner of perversions facilitated by his connections to powerful elites.
I mention Epstein for a very specific reason. You see, shortly after writing his rather eccentric novel, Barr inexplicably hired the sexual predator to teach at his school. Epstein, a college dropout with no teaching experience, was criminally unqualified for the role.
Remember, this is the Dalton School we are talking about, one of the most prestigious private institutions in the United States. It has long been a breeding ground for the children of the wealthy and powerful, boasting alumni who go on to attend Ivy League universities and hold influential positions across various fields.
Such an august reputation makes the hiring of an unqualified individual like Epstein all the more baffling — until you realize that dad Donald had worked for the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA. Now, things look a little clearer. But also considerably darker.
Was Jeffrey Epstein an intelligence asset? A better question might be, how could someone without intelligence connections operate with such impunity for so many years?
As for Donald’s son, it’s difficult to know where to begin.
The former U.S. attorney general has longstanding ties to the CIA. Early in his career, Bill Barr worked for the CIA while attending law school, specifically in the intelligence analysis and law divisions. Throughout his legal career, Barr maintained connections with the intelligence community, evident during his tenure as attorney general under George H.W. Bush, a former CIA director.
Most readers know that Bill Barr's connection to Epstein traces back to 2019, when, as U.S. attorney general, he oversaw the Justice Department during the pedophile's arrest in Florida. But again, as most readers know, appearances can be very deceptive.
Barr and Epstein go way back. As the excellent investigative reporter Nick Bryant has shown with photographic evidence, Barr and Epstein clearly attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts, a renowned arts education institution in northern Michigan, when they were kids. At the very same time.
However, when Bryant looked through the school's yearbook, he found that none of the photos had names listed. A yearbook without names is not just uncommon. It’s unheard of. Something is off.
In August 2019, shortly after Epstein was found dead in his prison cell, Bill Barr issued the following statement:
“I was appalled to learn that Jeffrey Epstein was found dead early this morning from an apparent suicide while in federal custody. Mr. Epstein’s death raises serious questions that must be answered.”
Indeed, they must. Such as, just how close were Bill Barr and Epstein, really? How deep did their connection go?
And for anyone thinking, "How can you criticize Bill Barr? He's on 'our team,'" let’s be absolutely clear: When it comes to the mass trafficking and exploitation of children — including victims as young as 11 — there are no teams. There's only a choice between good and evil. Either you oppose Satan or support him. I know where I stand. But do we know where Bill Barr stands?
To this day, with the exception of Ghislaine Maxwell, not a single person linked to Jeffrey Epstein has faced arrest or prosecution.
Let that sink in. Epstein masterminded one of the largest and most sophisticated trafficking rings in American history, allegedly catering to some of the world's most powerful figures, from Bill Clinton to Prince Andrew. Yet here we are in 2024, and we are no closer to justice than we were back in 2019.
After Epstein's arrest, Barr initially claimed a conflict of interest, citing his previous work at Kirkland and Ellis — the law firm that helped broker Epstein's notorious 2007 "sweetheart" deal with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie Villafaña.
But after a quick consultation with "ethics officials," Barr abruptly reversed his decision and inserted himself into Epstein's prosecution in Manhattan. Of course, his connections ran even deeper than a 12-year-old legal assignment. Let's not forget, Barr's father had longstanding ties to Epstein.
Why didn’t Barr fully recuse himself and allow an impartial prosecutor to take charge? Because, it seems, he was under orders not to. And who would issue such orders? Likely, his old friends at the CIA. Epstein had too much dirt on too many high-profile people. For that reason, he was almost certainly murdered. His victims will never see justice, and we will never uncover the actual truth.
Jeffrey Epstein is dead and so too are the chances of getting to the bottom of the darkest story since 9/11.
Bill Barr has some serious questions to answer. He knows this. It's high time the rest of America knew it, too.
It gives a whole new meaning to "Bad Boy for Life."
Sean “Diddy” Combs may be adding a new moniker to his lengthy roster of aliases: the eight-digit number assigned to inmates in the federal prison system.
The rap impresario's recent indictment on sex trafficking and racketeering charges has sent shockwaves through the industry, lending credence to Blaze Media commentator Jason Whitlock's speculation that Diddy is the Jeffrey Epstein of the music biz.
After leaving office, Barack Obama was spotted hanging out with Diddy. What were the two men up to — and did it have anything to do with the 1,000 bottles of baby oil the feds seized from the latter's mansion?
Arrested on serious federal charges, the 54-year-old has been denied bail and is currently in solitary confinement at the Special Housing Unit of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. This high-security unit is known for housing dangerous and high-profile inmates like R. Kelly, a man Diddy knows very well, disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s right-hand woman.
The indictment accuses the once-untouchable mogul of running a “criminal enterprise” through his vast business empire, with allegations spanning sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors argue that Diddy’s continued freedom jeopardizes the integrity of the case, pointing to his previous attempts to contact victims and witnesses as evidence. His legal team will appeal the bail denial before U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Carter. If the appeal fails, Diddy will remain behind bars.
And, many would argue, this is probably where he deserves to be.
Diddy’s ties to powerful figures in Hollywood and politics are strikingly similar to Jeffrey Epstein’s network. Whereas Epstein had a "thing" for young girls, Diddy appears to have one for young boys — specifically, up-and-coming young talent in the music industry.
For example, the resurfacing of disturbing videos showing a 15-year-old Justin Bieber speaking with Diddy raises some very serious questions. In the footage, Diddy can be heard stating, "Where we hanging out and what we’re doing we really can’t disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream."
Or nightmare.
The 2016 Howard Stern interview with Usher revealed unsettling details about his experience living with Diddy at just 14 years old. Why, one wonders, was a 14-year-old boy residing with a grown man with no ties to his family?
Diddy’s vast network includes high-profile names like Will Smith and Ashton Kutcher, both of whom have also faced controversy in recent times. As you no doubt recall, Smith’s public image was severely damaged when he assaulted Chris Rock at the Oscars. As for Kutcher, his extremely close friendship with Danny Masterson, a Scientology nut and convicted rapist, has drawn widespread criticism and damaged his own reputation.
Then there’s Cuba Gooding Jr. Remember him? Once a Hollywood powerhouse, the actor is best known for his performances in films like "A Few Good Men" and "Jerry Maguire," where he delivered the iconic, "Show me the money!" line. Subsequent roles in "Men of Honor" and "Pearl Harbor" further solidified his status as a leading man — on screen and, it seems, in Mr. Diddy’s life.
In a recent interview with Patrick Bet-David, Gooding Jr. appeared visibly uncomfortable and evasive when questioned about the allegations surrounding the music man. His response was a jittery mess of mumbling and evasion, leading YouTube commenters to speculate that Gooding Jr. might be hiding more about the alleged criminal activities than he’s letting on. His reluctance to offer clear answers has sparked rumors about possible connections to Diddy and whether fear or complicity is driving his silence.
Much like Epstein’s infamous black book, Diddy’s Rolodex was supposedly packed with high-profile names. As the New York Post reported, he forged partnerships with billionaire investor Ron Burkle and hedge fund titan Ray Dalio. Diddy’s fashion line hit Macy’s and Dillard’s, and he took major business strides with stakes in Revolt TV and beverage giant Diageo, a collaboration with Estée Lauder heir William Lauder, and he made deals with Zac Posen and Liz Claiborne. He also launched a water brand with Mark Wahlberg and partnered with Marc Benioff of Salesforce to build a marketplace for black-owned businesses.
In the early 2000s, Diddy made a bold move by cold-emailing then-Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, pitching his idea to design the team’s uniforms. Diddy's gamble paid off, linking his Sean John line with a major sports team. Cuban, known for his nonstop, left-leaning diatribes, has been unusually tight-lipped about this Diddy connection.
But, as always, there’s more.
After leaving office, Barack Obama was spotted hanging out with Diddy. What were the two men up to — and did it have anything to do with the 1,000 bottles of baby oil the feds seized from the latter's mansion?
What we do know, however, is that Diddy didn’t act alone. He was, up until very recently, actively engaged with a network of influential figures. Like Epstein, Diddy built connections with high-profile individuals to protect his own nefarious activities. The multimillionaire's annual White Party, a magnet for the elite of American culture over the past 20-something years, only reinforced his image of invincibility.
Now, it remains to be seen whether Diddy will reveal his accomplices or follow in Epstein’s footsteps, conveniently suiciding himself before he can incriminate anyone truly powerful.
To quote Diddy's one-time protégé Shyne, who recently claimed he was his boss' "fall guy" in the 1999 nightclub shooting that landed him 10 years in lock-up: "Whatcha gonna do when s**t hits the fan, take it like a man or snitch like a b***h?"
President Donald Trump has vowed to release damning documents if re-elected, which might complicate life for a lot of powerful people and institutions.
The titular host of the "Lex Fridman Podcast" asked Trump in an episode published Wednesday whether he would seek the release of additional documents pertaining to the associates of the late, convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump said he would have "no problem" doing so.
"There's a moment where you had some hesitation about Epstein — releasing some of the documents on Epstein. Why the hesitation?"
The Republican did not appear to accept the premise, stating, "I don't think I had — I'm not involved. I never went to his island, fortunately. But a lot of people did."
Trump explained why various powerful people allowed Epstein to get close: "He was a good salesman. He was, you know, a hale and hearty type of guy. He had some nice assets that he'd throw around like islands."
"A lot of big people went to that island," continued Trump. "But fortunately, I was not one of them."
Trump initially suggested that the list of clients who went to Epstein's island, Little Saint James, would "probably" be released.
Late last year, Manhattan federal Judge Loretta A. Preska ordered the release of over 150 names of people referenced in Epstein lawsuit documents. The documents subsequently made public the names of some of the pedophile's friends, associates, and alleged victims.
Flight logs for the pedophile's private jet, the so-called "Lolita Express," publicly available since December 2021, also identified a number of individuals who were in Epstein's orbit.
Fridman appeared particularly interested, however, in the names of those affluent individuals who visited the pedophile's island, Little Saint James.
"It's just very strange for a lot of people that the list of clients that went to the island has not been made public," said the podcaster.
"Yeah, it's very interesting, isn't it? Probably will be," said Trump. "I'd certainly take a look at it."
Trump added, "Yeah, I'd be inclined to do the Epstein — I'd have no problem with it."
'I have people come to me and beg me not to do it.'
In the interview, Fridman also pressed Trump on whether he would seek the release of other documents withheld from the American public.
Fridman told Trump that a lot of people "are very interested in footage of UFOs. The Pentagon has released a few videos, and there's been anecdotal reports from fighter pilots."
After priming the pump, Fridman asked, "Will you help push the Pentagon to release more footage, which a lot of people claim is available?"
Trump responded, "I would do that. I'd love to do that. I have to do that."
The Republican indicated that just as there is great interest in the government divulging more information about unidentified anomalous phenomena, he has also faced pressure to release more about President John F. Kennedy's assassination.
"I did release a lot," said Trump. "But I have people come to me and beg me not to do it."
While in office, Trump ordered the release of tens of thousands of documents related to the Kennedy assassination, stating in an Oct. 26, 2017, memo to government agency heads:
The American public expects — and deserves — its Government to provide as much access as possible to the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records (records) so that the people may finally be fully informed about all aspects of this pivotal event. Therefore, I am ordering today that the veil finally be lifted.
Under apparent pressure from the FBI and CIA, Trump temporarily withheld thousands of additional documents pending further review, citing the need "to protect against harm to the military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, or the conduct of foreign relations that is of such gravity that it outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure."
RFK Jr. suggested to Tucker Carlson last month that Trump admitted it was former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who had "begged him" not to release the Kennedy documents.
Although Trump postponed the release of the documents, he indicated while in office that the remaining documents would be released by October 2021.
When the time came, President Joe Biden intervened to keep the secret files from the American public.
Trump told supporters following his endorsement by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last month that he would release "all of the remaining documents pertaining to the assassination of John F Kennedy" and that if elected, he would also establish a new commission on presidential assassination attempts.
Trump reiterated to Fridman on his podcast he would follow through and be doing so "very early on."
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The corruption of our pop culture is linked to the corruption of our politics, which is leading us into tyranny.
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