BY JAMES MARTINEZ
Clarkston News Staff Writer
After eluding charges for over 15 years, an inmate already serving time in Carson City Prison for criminal sexual conduct was convicted on July 29 of murdering a former Clarkston woman.
A jury in Mecosta County Circuit Court found Mark David Bailey, 36, guilty of the first degree murder and felony murder of Mary Pine, 79, over a decade and a half after the crime took place in Big Rapids.
Bailey now faces life in prison according to Kevin Courtney, the director of Big Rapids Department of Public Safety.
Courtney said he was contacted by a U.S. attorney in 2003 who said a former cellmate of Bailey claimed Bailey confessed the Pine murder to him.
After that information came to light, retired FBI agent Eugene Debbaudt was asked to look over the evidence and concluded there was a strong case against Bailey.
The Big Rapids City Commission agreed to pay the $20,000 necessary to hire Debbaudt and retired Big Rapids police Sergeant Steve Delaney to handle the case. The two men began the reinvestigation and rebuilt the case in February 2004.
‘You never officially close a homicide. We had always thought the case had a good suspect and felt it was solvable,? said Courtney.
In September 2004, a warrant was issued for Bailey and the trial began on July 18, 2005, with the verdict coming July 29 said Courtney.
Mike Taylor, a reporter for The Big Rapids Pioneer who covered the trial, said the jury deliberated for six hours over two days before coming back with the verdict in the brutal murder case.
‘It was important to solve the case. I wasn’t an employee in 1989, but clearly we have an accountability to the public? The conviction gave peace to the community and the victim’s family who had to go all those years thinking someone got away with it. They got justice and the killer didn’t walk away,? said Courtney.
Mary Pine, a former Clarkston resident, moved to Big Rapids to be closer to family. As stated in the original article covering the murder in Feb.22, 1989 edition of The Clarkston News, Pine lived on Clarkston Road near Caberfae Trail for nearly 30 years. She cared for elderly people in her home and was active in the Independence Township Senior Citizens Center.
According to Pine’s niece, Susan Motdoch, of Clarkston, Bailey worked occasionally for Pine in Big Rapids doing odd jobs such as shoveling snow.
Motdoch expressed relief as well as some regret that Bailey was not caught immediately after the murder.
‘It has provided closure.? said Motdoch. ‘I can’t believe they caught the guy. It makes you feel good.?
‘I can’t tell you how often I told people about this. I can’t believe they didn’t solve it in the first place. He wouldn’t have been able to commit other crimes,? Motdoch continued.
Bailey was serving 20 to 50 years in prison for 1995 convictions of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
As of August 12 there was no date set for sentencing.