Post by Scumhunter on Mar 15, 2015 23:28:08 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: USMarshals.Gov)
Fugitive Profile as of March 16th, 2015 (based on AMW archive, US Marshals Wanted Poster):
SEX: White
RACE: Male
DATE OF BIRTH: August 30, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH: Iowa
HEIGHT: 5'09"
WEIGHT: 230 LBS
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Traits And Habits:
-Smokes cigarettes
-Drinks occasionally
-Cops say he has smoked marijuana and claims it keeps him "going to work"
-Cops say he used to use PCP
-Enjoys reading
-Enjoys photography
Possible Locations: Iowa. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
TIPS: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND THIS PERSON YOURSELF. HE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS. REPORT ANY INFORMATION TO THE NEAREST USMS DISTRICT OFFICE, or call 1-877-WANTED-2.
Dennis Michael Ervin has been wanted by Waukesha County Detectives since 1978. His case was aired on the June 23rd, 2005 episode of AMW. Below is a somewhat dated, but still very well-detailed archived profile from around that airing date:
"Be Quiet Or I'll Blow Your Brains Out"
On July 19, 1978, Dennis Michael Ervin committed a disgusting crime. He preyed on the compassion of an elderly woman we'll call "Mildred" by knocking on her door, telling her some kids up the street were in a car accident, and asking her for a blanket. Wanting to help, Mildred complied and gave Ervin a blanket. But before she could go back into her house, Ervin revealed his real motive for the house visit. He threw the blanket over the elderly woman's head and held a gun to her chin, threatening to "blow her brains out" if she screamed.
Ervin forced the woman into her living room and tied her to a chair. The terrified lady sat restrained in her living room for about an hour before she heard the back door open. In walked one of her friends, "Stella." The two ladies had been out food shopping earlier, and Stella had forgotten to give her Mildred one of her grocery items. Stella decided to walk to Mildred's house to drop it off. When Stella arrived at the house, Mildred called out for help, but before Stella could even move, Ervin grabbed her and tied her to another chair in the living room.
Ervin's Great Escape
Back at the elderly woman's friend's house, her husband, "Jim" was getting worried. Stella had only gone to Mildred's to drop something off -- not for a social visit. Jim called Mildred's house, but the line was busy. So he decided to find out for himself what what the ladies were up to.
About 20 minutes after Stella joined Mildred as a hostage in the living room, the ladies heard Jim coming toward the back door -- another chance to get help. But Ervin met Jim at the back door before he could realize what was happening, and this time, Ervin wasn't messing around. Ervin shot Jim with his sawed off shotgun, striking the old man's shoulder and neck. Struggling, Jim tried to get back to his car and to safety -- but Ervin wasn't about to let him go so easily. He began beating Jim in the face with his gun.
As the struggle continued outside, Stella was busy freeing herself from the living room. In a brave attempt to help her husband, Stella ventured outside -- but Ervin recaptured her, and dragged the couple back into the house. Not wanting to take any more chances, Ervin restrained Jim in the living room, and tied up Stella seperately in a bedroom.
According to cops, Ervin held his three victims hostage overnight. At some point the next morning, Ervin raped Stella, all the while threatening to kill her and Jim if she didn't obey his wishes. Eventually, he stopped and suddenly claimed to be hungry for McDonald's. He turned up some music and left the house.
Cops Confident Despite Cold Case
The victims say Ervin's behavior throughout the night was extremely bizarre. They say he was pacing and talking to himself the whole time. They also say during certain parts of the ordeal Ervin was very calm and even apologetic, while during others he was irrational and violent.
Ervin was eventually arrested and convicted of the crimes, including 3 counts of False Imprisonment, 1 count of Endangering Safety by Conduct Regardless of Life, and 1 count of 1st Degree Sexual Assault. Ervin was sentenced to a mental health facility, and spent time there before he was determined safe enough to be placed in the Bridge Halfway House in Milwaukee, Wis. But that was a big mistake -- on August 12, 1988 Ervin escaped from the mental institution and hasn't been seen since.
Cops say Ervin is undoubtedly a risk to society and is probably still out on the streets committing crimes.
The original detectives working Dennis Ervin's case have long since retired or passed away. The case files have been passed around over the years-- and new leads and information have been hard to come by. But at 56 years old (admin edit: Ervin is now 66 if still alive), Ervin is still young, and cops working the case now are confident someone out there knows where Ervin has been hiding all these years.
Thoughts? While 66 is a relatively young age nowadays, one thing I feel that can't be overlooked is Ervin was a PCP user and his pacing back and forth was indicative of his drug use in my opinion. So while young, guys heavily into drugs often don't last long. I wouldn't be surprised if Ervin is in very poor health even if he's still out there. What I do know is the victims, although probably passed away by now, still deserve justice. And Ervin still needs to pay for what he did if he's alive.
web.archive.org/web/20060403115733/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=32750
www.usmarshals.gov/district/wi-e/fugitives/htm/ervin.htm
Admin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
