A Wolf in Suburbia: The Pesce Family Murders Part 8

Episode 89 of the podcast highlights the criminal careers of Dennis Lincoln and John Wolfenbarger and goes into correspondence between the defendants and myself back in 2014. This is chapters 24, 25, and 26 of the book, A Wolf in Suburbia - The Pesce Family Murders.

Some of the language used in this podcast is not intended for younger listeners. Parental discretion is advised; bad language is beeped out. The voices used for Lincoln and Wolfenbarger are AI-generated. 

Transcript

Chapter 24 - Career Criminals

Born in May of 1975 Dennis Delmar Lincoln was only 27 at the time of the Pesce Murders. His rap sheet up until then was much shorter than his co-defendants with only one arrest.

On September 19th, 1993 at the age of 18, Lincoln was arrested by the Flint Township Police Department. He was booked for Assault with intent to rob and steal while armed, a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life, or for any term of years.

In Flint’s 7th Circuit Court, Lincoln pled guilty to the felony and was sentenced six to 20 years at the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia. Lincoln was incarcerated there until 1999 and during his time at Handlon only served a total of 18 days of ‘toplock’. In prison terms ‘toplock’ means that a prisoner may not go outside, may not use the phone and may not leave his or her bunk except for meals, to shower and use the bathroom. It is used for minor infractions such as disobeying direct orders, inmate fights and contraband. 

In 1999 it was deemed that “Lincoln’s level of sophistication and persuasion are far more advanced than the average Handlon population,” and therefore was transferred to the Carson City Correctional Facility. Less than a month later he was transferred to the Boyer Road Correctional Facility where he eventually became bunk mates with John Wolfenbarger. Between 1999 and 2002 Lincoln saw 37 more days of ‘toplock’ punishment mainly for ‘out of place’ infractions and supposedly stealing a library book.   

In early 2002, Dennis Lincoln was moved to the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson. Cooper Street, being a Residential Reentry in-reach Facility meant that Lincoln was up for parole. He was released in the spring of 2002. Had he served his full sentence, Lincoln would have remained in prison until 2013.     

At the Pesce murder sentencing, Lincoln was found guilty on five counts of Felony Homicide, five counts of Felony Armed Robbery, one count of Weapons Felony Firearm, one count of Possession by Felon and five counts of Second Degree Murder. Combined, those charges totaled 15 life sentences plus nine years.

Obviously, the 2002 crimes were quite a jump for Lincoln. No proof was found of him ever being in the Pesce home but the fact that he admitted to planning the robbery, drove the getaway vehicle and was in possession of stolen property awarded him the same sentence as Wolfenbarger. 

Since the Pesce Murders, Lincoln has kept a relatively clean prison record. He was sent to the Alger Correctional Facility in Munising after the trial and has been transferred a total of five times since. From Alger, he was moved to the Standish Correctional Facility, back to Alger, then to the Newberry Correctional Facility in 2011. He spent 2012 and 2013 at the Chippewa Correctional Facility in the Upper Peninsula and currently, at the time of writing of this book, resides in the Macomb Correctional Facility in New Haven. 

His infractions since 2002 have included mainly ‘out of place’ issues and one fight in 2009 with another inmate while in the chow line and have totaled 74 days of ‘Loss of Privilege’.  

John Thomas Wolfenbarger, also known as ‘Solo’ was born on November 4th, 1971. Having just turned 31 at the time of the Pesce murders, he had a considerably longer police record that covered numerous counties. Like Lincoln, his first arrest came while he was still a teenager.  

On August 12th, 1989 Officers Charlie Rozum and Thomas Shivak of the Farmington Hills Police Department were driving eastbound on 9 Mile Road towards Farmington Road. As they approached the Amoco Gas Station on the corner; a beat up, brown 1973 Dodge Polara roared out of the parking lot, tires squealing. The vehicle took off southbound on Farmington Road as Rozum activated his overhead lights and siren. 

The Polara pulled into an apartment complex and came to a stop 100 yards in. The driver of the vehicle, a young, white male with shoulder length brown hair exited the car and slowly walked towards the front of it. When Rozum exited his squad car, the male took off running in between the apartment buildings hopping a fence and escaping. As Rozum returned from giving chase, Officer Shivak showed him the loaded .38 caliber revolver he had found under the driver’s seat along with a box of .38 Special ammo and a holster.  

By the next day, the officers in charge of the case found out that the license plate was registered to Betty Faye Smith of Detroit. They had also received information from a confidential informant that the person they were looking for was John Thomas Wolfenbarger. Rozum and Shivak also learned that Wolfenbarger was an employee at that Amoco station and had worked from 2:00 to 10:00pm on the day in question; they were also told he was currently at work. The officers then returned to the Amoco station, recognized him as the individual from the day before and placed him under arrest on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. Wolfenbarger played dumb and said ‘What gun?’ and ‘What car?’ explaining that the car belonged to his brother and that he didn’t even own a drivers license. 

The following day Officer Rozum received a phone call from an Officer Michaels of the Detroit Police Department. Michaels informed Rozum that Wolfenbarger could be the same suspect wanted in nearly 25 burglaries in Detroit and that the gun found had been stolen from a Detroit home in February. The officers promised each other they would share any information and print results they acquired. 

A week later, officers found out that the 1973 Dodge actually belonged to Wolfenbarger’s brother, Christopher Smith. Sergeant Chuck Nebus contacted Smith and advised him that if he responded to the police department that day or the next he could get the necessary paperwork needed to release the vehicle. At the time he was unable to make a commitment as to when he would show up. More phone calls were made and letters were sent to Smith. Eventually he had his phone disconnected and never came to get the car.     

On October 1st, 1989, one month before his eighteenth birthday, Wolfenbarger was arrested by Redford Township Police officers and charged with Felony Breaking and Entering on an Occupied Dwelling with Intent to commit Larceny. Redford Township officers spoke with Farmington Hills officers who confirmed that they had a warrant out for his arrest. On November 1st, officers were dispatched to the Wayne County Jail. They picked up Wolfenbarger and brought him back to Farmington Hills where he was booked and processed. 

Wolfenbarger’s bond was set at $500 and his preliminary trial date would be a week later. At the preliminary exam he was bound over for trial and had his bond upped to $1000. Eventually he was found guilty of Weapons Carrying Concealed, a felony charge that earned him a possible five years.   

Much of 1990 and 1991 were spent in and out of Camp Pugsley Correctional Facility in northern Lower Michigan and Straits Correctional Facility in the Upper Peninsula.  Between March and April of 1990 Wolfenbarger earned himself a total of 28 days in top lock and eight hours extra duty for various ‘out of place’ charges. In July of the same year he lost 30 days of visiting privileges when he was found guilty of sexual misconduct for fondling and squeezing his female visitor’s breasts in front of a guard.    

Shortly after his release in 1990 and eight days after his 19th birthday, Wolfenbarger was again arrested in Redford on another Felony Breaking and Entering on an Occupied Dwelling with Intent charge. He was arraigned in January of 1991 and served less than three of the possible 15 years. 

In October of 1992 Wolfenbarger was transferred to Hiawatha Correctional Facility in the Upper Peninsula after an incident at the previous prison. Wolfenbarger went to the aid of another prisoner who was being kicked and beaten by a large group. The group then turned on him. On his transfer form someone wrote, “There exists a strong possibility that trouble may follow Wolfenbarger.”  

In 1993 and 1994 Wolfenbarger called three different prisons his home, one of which he escaped from for a short time. On June, 25th 1993, Wolfenbarger escaped from Camp Tuscola Correctional Facility and a warrant was quickly put out for his arrest. Unable to resist, Wolfenbarger went right back to what he did best, robbing people.  

On Tuesday January, 11th of 1994, Wolfenbarger had his first run in with officers from Livonia. Around 10:00pm that evening owners of Hair Etc. on Middlebelt Road north of Seven Mile heard what sounded like scratching and cutting noises coming from the roof above their neighboring business, Detroit Baseball Card Company. Officers Taylor and Scott were dispatched to the scene and immediately heard the noises themselves. 

Officer Taylor ran around the back of the baseball card shop and saw a white male crouched down on the roof. Taylor shouted at the man and ordered him to put his hands up. Instead, the man dropped his tools and ran across the strip mall’s rooftop. After jumping off the roof, the suspect cut through the neighborhood behind the strip mall. As he ran down a side street Officer Yon, arriving as back up ordered him to stop at gunpoint.

The suspect, dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweat pants and white Fila tennis shoes, put up his hands and stopped. Officer Yon patted him down and handcuffed him, placing the suspect in the back of his squad car. 

“I wasn’t doing anything; it’s not illegal to sit on a roof.”

Initially the man told Officer Yon that his name was Christopher Smith, his brother’s name. He quickly corrected himself, however, admitting that his name was actually John Wolfenbarger and that he had escaped out of a boy’s camp. The officer ran his name through the computer and found that he did indeed have a warrant for escape. Wolfenbarger knew he was busted and began explaining to the officer what he was doing on the roof. Yon stopped him from talking and read him his rights, he quickly waved them.

“I was doing the B and E because I have no money and baseball cards are valuable.”

Officer Yon noticed Wolfenbarger’s shoes and realized that while responding to an earlier breaking and entering call on a street one mile east he had seen the same ‘Fila’ print in the snow. Yon asked Wolfenbarger if it had been him at the home too, Wolfenbarger said yes. 

“I walked in the alley behind the home and hopped the wall. While I was inside they came home so I ran.”

On the roof of the Detroit Baseball Card Company officers found that Wolfenbarger had cut through layers of tar, foam and gravel before making a six inch cut into the metal roof. Near the hole they found a hack saw, bolt cutters and a white cloth bag. Inside the cloth bag they found a 15 foot yellow rope with hooks on each end and two ‘Sears’ duffle bags. 

Inside Wolfenbarger’s 1980 two door Oldsmobile they found numerous items taken from the earlier home break-in along with a receipt for all of the recently purchased tools used. He was charged with three counts of Breaking and Entering with Intent and sent back to prison in Tuscola County, located in the ‘thumb’ of Michigan.

Bond for Wolfenbarger was set at $100,000.00 and the District Court in Tuscola County offered him a deal. Plead guilty to the prison escape and one prior felony and the remaining felonies will be dropped. The trial date was set for July of 1994 but due to a death in an attorney’s family it was moved to August. The trial was pushed back again after they realized an officer, who was a key witness to the escape, had scheduled vacation time. Finally in September he was found guilty.  

He was sentenced in January of 1995 at the 54th Circuit Court in Caro. The Felony charge of Escaping Prison added an additional two to seven years to his sentence. In March of 1995 he asked for a dismissal of trial stating that he was prosecuted by unauthorized officials. The dismissal was denied with the Circuit Court Judge stating,

“That because the Defendant’s Motion is clearly totally without merit, justification, or excuse, as well as being untimely, frivolous, ludicrous, and without basis in law whatsoever, the Court hereby imposes sanctions against the Defendant in the sum of $2,000.00.”

It wasn’t the first, nor would it be the last time Wolfenbarger would waste a court’s time and finances by attempting to manipulate the law. The way it looked, Wolfenbarger was going to be in prison until at least 2009, if not longer. 

After the prison escape sentencing, Wolfenbarger was transferred to Mound Correctional Facility in Detroit. It was there that his attitude towards correction officers worsened. In May, the inmate had a run in with a female guard. 

“What are you doing out here?”

“I wanted to take a long shower and I can’t beat off that fast. There ain’t no clock in the shower. Just open my fucking door and shut up.” Wolfenbarger replied. That conversation earned him a few days of ‘toplock’ which he followed up with threatening behavior and AWOL charges in June and September.

1996 through 1998 saw five more prison transfers for Wolfenbarger as well as numerous charges of fighting. One fight in particular in December of 1996 found him guilty of Assault and Battery after beating up a man in the bathroom. He received seven days of ‘toplock’, 30 days loss of privileges and was fined $100; all over a supposed gambling debt.

Wolfenbarger was transferred to Saginaw Correctional Facility in 1998 and through another inmate began writing letters back and forth with a young lady from Livonia named Doreen. The pair wrote to each other frequently for six months and then Doreen began to visit in 1999. On April 28th Doreen drove to Saginaw for a scheduled 5:00pm visit, the result for Wolfenbarger was 30 days of ‘toplock’. 

From the Michigan Department of Corrections – Major Misconduct Report:

“While in Saginaw Correctional Facility visiting room Prisoner Wolfenbarger placed his hand on visitor Doreen’s vagina area for the purpose of sexual gratification. Doreen placed her hand on the penis of Wolfenbarger and masturbated him to the point of ejaculation. A phone call from Wolfenbarger the following day to Doreen referencing their visit has Wolfenbarger saying, ‘I can’t remember the last time I came that much, was it a lot or not?’ Doreen replies, ‘I would think so, my hand was full.’ Later in the same conversation Wolfenbarger states, ‘Did I tell you how much I loved what I had in the palm of my hand yesterday? A letter to Wolfenbarger from Doreen dated 4/28/99 states, ‘I have never felt as good as you made me feel today! No one has made me feel so great. Thanks so much! On 5/4/99 when an officer was talking to Wolfenbarger about the incident, he indicated he was just trying to make Doreen happy by putting a smile on her face.”  

In February of 2000 Wolfenbarger was transferred again, this time to the Boyer Road Correctional Facility in Carson City. Boyer Road is where he would meet and ultimately befriend Dennis Lincoln. The two played board games together, ate together and watched television together. They also worked on a plan for what they would do when they got out. 

On July 18th, 2002 Wolfenbarger was transferred from Boyer Road to Parnall Correctional Facility. Parnall, a Reentry in Reach facility in Jackson served as an exit point for inmates who were up for parole.  Despite being a repeat offender and his frequent misconduct charges, Wolfenbarger received a positive parole action in the form of a P-61, with a release date of August 13th. After serving only eight years; the man who had spent almost his entire adult life in prison was paroled. As had been the case with his previous releases, he would be unable to adapt to the life of a free man and wind up doing something that landed him right back in prison. 

Four months later, on December 24th he was arrested for the murders of the Pesce family and in May of 2003 sentenced to five counts of First Degree Premeditated Murder, five counts of Felony Murder, five counts of Felony Armed Robbery, one count of Weapons Felony Firearm and one count of Possession by Felon. The counts combined for 16 life sentences plus an additional two years.

Since the Pesce Murders, Wolfenbarger has been transferred between 15 different prisons and received over 250 days of ‘toplock’, detention and loss of privileges. After sentencing he was sent to Baraga Correctional Facility and arrived with a new, larger chip on his shoulder. In November of 2003 Wolfenbarger earned 60 total days of Loss of Privilege when he returned to his cell one day and found it had been searched. 

“I tell you what, next time one of you officers come in my cell and touch my shit I am going to fuck one of you bitches up!” 

The officer closed the door as Wolfenbarger continued to make threats. 

“Read my file Perry, I’m no one to fuck with.”

Later, when a different officer walked by his cell he was still upset. 

“Which one of you mother fuckers shook down my house?” 

In October of 2004 he had another run-in with an Officer Chipman at Baraga. This threat earned him an additional 20 days of Loss of Privilege. 

 “Hey Chipman, I’m going to butcher you, you pig bitch.” Wolfenbarger then ran his hand over his own throat imitating a knife. “You’re on my Kill list you pig bitch.”

In the years since, Wolfenbarger has relaxed some, with only minor infractions for possessing make-shift tattoo machinery. From the time he turned 18-years-old Wolfenbarger has been transferred in and out of different prisons a total of 31 times. He has spent time at 21 different facilities throughout Michigan, a handful of them two or three times and in total has racked up nearly a calendar year’s worth of penalties for misconduct. 

Chapter 25 - Conversations with the Co-Defendant 

I started work on this book late in 2013 and after doing some research, decided to send a letter to each of the men found guilty for the murders that had taken place eleven years earlier. In the letter I informed them of my intentions and told them what I was looking for from them. As a precautionary measure I apologized in advance for upsetting them. In the case of Mr. Lincoln’s letter I informed him that we could speak via letter or by telephone but I would not at the time, be able to drive the eight hours it would take to reach his facility in the Upper Peninsula. 

The letters were signed and dated, February, 26th, 2014 and sent off. It would be three weeks of checking my P.O. Box before I finally received something. On March 14th I received a letter from the Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kincheloe. The envelope was addressed from an inmate I had never heard of, named D. Vann #612559. I only found out recently that Mr. Vann is locked up for Armed Robbery and Carjacking in Oakland County and is facing 60 years. He had befriended Dennis Lincoln and would help him write any letters he needed to write, as was the case with the letter to me. 

3/12/2014

“Dear Nathan,

I thank you for your letter and very much respect your inquisitive mind. Although this is a wound that I rarely sprinkle salt into, I have definitely given your letter some thought. 

First, my thoughts were to toss the letter and continue with my present cycle of life. I didn’t do that. So my second thought was to buy an envelope from someone and attempt to probe exactly what it is you might desire from me. 

You make a good point, and you come to a correct conclusion concerning your feelings about a robbery and not a murder. About that… well… 

Listen, the problems this book will cause me are not so apparent as to have me shut down on you. Your motive for writing this particular type of non-fiction work – as I see it, are as such:

1. You truly wish to spotlight and understand the origin of the circumstances that bring homicide to suburban communities and the aftermath following such; 2) Or you want to spotlight myself; 3) You want to spotlight the Lincoln/Wolfenbarger dynamic; 4) You want to make it big in True Crime???

Maybe it’s all four. Nonetheless, I would ask Nathan, not to focus on me. This case, myself, very big news – fascinating to many inmates. The whispers, the smiles, the “hey, you’re famous” declarations. But on the flipside of this sir, there is a vein of stark contention. But since I do have a million life sentences, I rarely get a face to face “you killed kids!” With time, those particular, “oh now I have to fight or stab someone” days have all but died. So this book – again – comes with great peril for me. Please understand my apprehension. 

You’ve noticed I’m sure that my name is not on this envelope. It’s because I don’t write. The prison allows us to send and receive e-mail. I won’t write again on paper, but your avenue to me is now JPAY.com. Dennis Lincoln #237169”

Nine days later I wrote Lincoln after figuring out the process for JPAY and ensuring my information would be kept private. I answered his questions and further informed him of my intentions. A few days later, he replied. At any point during these interviews, if my questions are not made obvious by his replies I will point out what I asked him. 

3/26/2014 

“Ok Nathan,

I have my answers, and see that you are seriously engaged in the process of getting to the real story. I will do what I can to provide you with what you need to complete your Livonia portion. 

Note: At the time, before uncovering what a big story this was in and of itself, I intended on writing about numerous local stories.

I must tell you that there will be times when I would prefer to keep certain things to myself. Not to say that I'm lying to you or anything, but some things I would like to keep to myself.

As far as what I knew and when I knew it, it’s a hell of a thing. Simply because...(I must use this computer kiosk in intervals of 15 minutes, and more, I can only use it twice daily--so sometimes, my thoughts will be cut in half, and you will receive the second half of them in the subsequent e-mail).

Tomorrow morning I will attempt to give you some of the back story you need...It's just much too crowded in the dayroom here to write to you.

I will get back to you shortly. 

Sincerely 

DDL”

A week passed, I was worried I had lost him as a contact, when I finally heard back from him. Although it was short, I was happy he was still on board.

4/3/2014

“You know, this would work better if you asked me specific questions that cater to the direction of the material you intend to pen. So, if you would please start a dialogue of sectioned inquires, that would be best for me... thanks man.”

I respected his request and immediately fired off a list of questions.

4/11/2014 – 4/13/2014

Well Nathan, 

1. I met the dude (Wolfenbarger) at the Boyer Road Facility, yes. We were locked in what they call a cube setting. It was 6 beds in a cubical shaped room, with three walls, and a half wall along the hallway. I was already there, and he moved in. We played board games and watched TV shows together.

Note: I next brought up their release in 2002. Dennis was released in the spring while Wolfenbarger was released in August. His dates are confused.

2. He (Wolfenbarger) got out first, and we had exchanged numbers prior to him leaving. The dude was cool, I liked him.

3. He (Marco Pesce) was not a target that we focused on or anything. We simply had a desire to rob someone... anyone. He just happened to be a flashy target. That was it. I know, sounds cold, but he had an expensive car, in front of a jewelry store. He seemed to be the best target we were going to find.

4. Murder was never part of the plan. We went to Meijer, on Gratiot or Seven Mile, something like that. We bought ski masks. We made a plan to ROB. Somewhere along the way, he (Wolfenbarger) decided that witnesses were going to be part of the plan. I was not privy to this decision making process... This was not my decision at all.

I have 40 seconds left....”

Note: Continued two days later.

“CONT'D...

5. I definitely regret what happened to the Pesce family. I wish I had been there to stop it, but I was not. It was unnecessary, and stupid. Had I not met this guy I would not have been in such a predicament. 

Note: I next asked if they would have been caught if it weren’t for Billy Smith.

6. According to what I know now, the forensic evidence was not there. They were chasing a million other leads. I just don't think they would have gotten to us by way of investigative prowess.

I hope I have answered your questions to your satisfaction thus far, and welcome any other questions you may have. Gotta go Nathan.”

Over the next couple of weeks we discussed my helping out a fellow inmate of his. Lincoln regularly received packages from his family, but he had a friend who had never received any packages and he asked me to help. I cautiously obliged and awaited the inmate’s information. It never came. On April 27th I sent Dennis some more questions regarding his parole in 2002 and what he thought of John Wolfenbarger still blaming his uncle for the murders, he responded the next day. 

4/28/2014

“IN REPLY:

1. According to the parole paperwork I received from the board, I was average probability for parole. Maybe they confused that with my high assault risk, for having an armed robbery and getting into a few fights while in prison.

2. Don't really want to comment on the kid directly. Maybe you might rephrase it.

Well, there we are. Sorry it's a tad late; everyone caught a mild case of the flu. Been laid up. Feeling better though and looking forward to more questions.

Dennis”

Between May of 2014 and February of 2015 I focused my efforts on other research while still receiving and sending sporadic emails back and forth. During that time I learned of his love for writing screenplays. At one point he sent me a few to look over, they were good; however, being an inmate he had no real way to do anything with them. We exchanged messages around the holidays and it wasn’t until March of 2015 that we got back to discussing the case. In those nearly ten months I had learned much more and was eager to speak with him again.

Thus far I had asked relatively obvious questions. I was careful not to step over any boundaries. As the research heated up and the book took shape, I decided to ramp up the level of questioning and try to get into his past a little. Out of respect, I asked for permission to contact his mother. I also wanted to know his feelings regarding those people out there, and there is more than a handful, who believes that Diane Pesce in some roundabout way had something to do with the murders. While talking with police after his arrest, it is reported that Lincoln was very upset and was quoted as saying ‘I didn’t want to hurt Diane’s babies’. This struck investigators as odd, because the statement implied that he had known Diane previous to the murders. 

Towards the end of March, I got a reply. 

3/25/2015

“Hello Nate,

If you have other questions, I am happy to answer them for the most part. However, the family portion of this thing is a no go. They definitely don't want to hear about this ever again, if they can help it. 

So, it's just me bud. I'll get into my thoughts about what you have asked in your last email in my next correspondence with you.

Thanks, Dennis”

4/2/2015

“Nathan,

I was thinking about what you asked last, and I will say this...

As far as the Diane thing goes, I definitely did not know her. Either I heard her name on CNN the night before I was arrested, or the Detectives mentioned during the course of the interrogation.

Further, my background is something you'll have to glean on your own. I simply have to hold on to something...Anything that is my own. I hope you can understand that. But I can expand on what you already have to a certain extent.”

In the beginning of April I secured the nearly 3000 page trial transcript from the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. After reading the transcript I wrote Lincoln again. This time asking him his thoughts on his attorney, Cornelius Pitts as well as if there was any truth to the letters Wolfenbarger wrote his mother shortly after his arrest. One of those letters pinned Lincoln and Billy Smith with the crime and stated that Smith threatened to kill Lincoln’s mother. 

4/15/2015

“Nathan,

As to Mr. Pitts, he was the funniest man I've ever heard of in a courtroom setting. The guy was hilarious. He would fall asleep [so I thought] and then as soon as the Prosecutor would ask something like "and what did she say about..." He'd jump up and say "objection, hearsay!" I would be amazed. 

Then his other eccentricities, he was a hoot. In his smooth talking of the ladies in the courtroom, I was dying laughing. So, yes, it was funny...serious, but funny.

As to John's letters read by the Prosecutor, I don't remember those, but I never heard any threats towards my mother. I wouldn't have stood for that. He was welcome to threaten me, and I would have made a decision on that basis, but my mom...Hell no. But no threats like that were presented to me. Anything else...let me know man.” 

After receiving Lincoln and Wolfenbarger’s prison records from the Michigan Department of Corrections I became curious to know what a common day for Lincoln was like. In the early days, both inmates went through their fair share of problems and punishments for various things while incarcerated. In the last five years or so however, they’ve both seemed to settle down a bit.  

4/29/2015

“They count the prisoners at 4:00am, and usually resume normal operations at 4:30. At this point you are allowed to go down to the three toilet/ four sink bathroom, and brush your teeth and wash your face. After that, you can go in and watch the news on the flat screen in the TV room. At about 7:00 am they call breakfast. Breakfast is usually oatmeal and a breakfast cake. Every two weeks (which is the only time I go); they have waffles, sausage and oatmeal. 

After that, they open the yard, and you can go out and work out. There are pull-up bars, dip bars, the track, a baseball diamond, a soccer field, basketball courts, and a handball court. Then there's the weigh pit or pavilion. I try to make it out there in the mornings when it's not so crowded. 

After that, I shower, and lay down to watch the news or a movie or something on my television (a 13 inch color TV that they sell for $150). After watching TV, I'll do my job, which is to push a guy in a wheelchair over to the chow hall for lunch. After that, my roommate is usually gone to work in the kitchen, and I have 8 hours by myself to write or maybe take a look at some legal papers or new laws or procedures. 

After that, it's pretty much whatever the day brings. There may be a deal to be made. Maybe some trading of items...who knows. Then there's the playing of cards, chess, etc.

Other than that, you can get on the phone and call someone, or you can get lost in a few TV programs. If I need to read something for research, I'll do that. Or if I have a new book, I'll read that. I try to keep at least $10 worth of items (toothpaste, chips, etc.) just in case someone is selling a book or other interesting item.”

Chapter 26 - In John’s Own Words

The following information is taken from various letters John has either released to the internet, mailed to individuals or to myself directly. 

From the website ‘JohnWolfenbargerTheTruth’ (presumably set up through usage of prison computers or via a family member/friend. Last updated in June of 2010 – the ‘Facebook page’ he mentions, no longer exists):

“On December 21, 2002, a family of 5 were murdered in Livonia, Michigan. Three months later a jury was seated in the trial of two defendants. Within eight weeks both defendants were handed multiple natural life prison sentences. This Facebook page belongs to the man who was convicted as the accused trigger man in the Pesce murder case. John Wolfenbarger #205217 of the Mich. Dept. of Corrections.

For several years I have kept silent for reasons that are no one else’s other than my own. I was not raised to be a snitch, rat, and or coward. Nor to throw others under the bus to save my own hide. Thus the purpose of this page and the uploaded contents. My belief is that some things are so obvious that they speak for themselves. Without the need of ratings hungry members of the media, nosey journalists or pathetic lying pretend bikers who wouldn’t the meaning of ‘Death Before Dishonor’ if it bit them on the ***. 

Some weeks ago, the History Channel cable network ran an episode of ‘Gangland’ devoted to the ‘Devil’s Diciples Motorcycle Club’. The main source of information used for this program was my uncle, William Thomas Smith, or better known as ‘Billy Wad’. The very person who deserves all credit for providing the perjury necessary; via himself and a handful of puppets, to place me on a bunk that is rightfully his. My problem is with him and his misfits, not the ‘Club’. As is known, I never provided any information concerning them or any of their activities. The only thing I have to say to them is they should of paid more attention to their recruiting practices. Live and learn. 

My trial consisted of perjury that will forever go unchecked. For those of you that participated and testified to truth, you bare no responsibility for the jury’s conclusion. For those of you that willingly placed your hand upon the Holy Bible and still stated things you knew to be false, may whatever God you believe in hold you accountable come Judgment day. For the juror who wrote and said ‘… if you only would of taken the stand against your uncle we would of listened…’, no comment.

Of the thousands of pages from the trial and investigative discovery, I have provided but a sample. Before long, all statements, testimonies and transcripts will be on this site for all to read. Personal information not relevant to this case but obtained during the investigation will be withheld. Those of you who do not want the world to hear what you had to say, you shouldn’t of said it. Freedom of information is a bitch!

The attached documents involve a few people of whom deserve a little bio. Since I have personally spoken to them back then and know what they had to say is lies then I can freely paint them as the people I know them to be.

‘Billy Wad’ my uncle

Marjorie Smith… Billy Wad’s accomplice in lies.

Steven Douglas Phillips… Billy Wad’s cousin.

Mark Nathaniel Clark… aka ‘Mad Anthony’. Although you didn’t testify I just want others to see what you are capable of.

Now, in closing I’d like to make a few comments. Take them for what they are:

If you’re a member of the media, a cop, or some other nosey person who believes I’ll respond to you… don’t waste your time. 

If you’re a member of the Pesce family, my prayers have always been with you but you decided to believe what law enforcement and the prosecution fed you and any questions you have need to be directed to those who flunked their polygraphs, my uncle and or Diane.

To those who know you matter to me… if you are always going to be pissed at me for not testifying and eating this case then you have to understand that my freedom isn’t worth the price I would of had to pay. You know what I’m speaking about. Since none of you walk in my shoes nor stand at my side, there’s no reason for us to ever speak again.

To those of you whom have been my support through these years, Bless you.

John Wolfenbarger #205217”

In the early stages of writing this book I was sent a letter that John Wolfenbarger wrote to a gentleman who, at the time, was apparently working on a book involving pen pals and prisoners serving life terms. This letter comes from May of 2008. It was one of the first and only times I was able to get a glimpse into the way the man’s brain works. I’ve left out any extraneous information. 

“Bill,

Well, it’s been a long time since I last wrote you. It wasn’t exactly a polite way of closing that last letter but there were many things on my plate. 

I had heard from my co-defendant prior to that last letter I wrote to you that you had also written him. Due to all the problems with people writing us and seeking to get involved in the case I automatically took it that you were being deceptive. Perhaps I was right. If the matter comes down to the fact that you’ve written prisoners for the purpose of publishing your opinions of prisoners sentenced to life in prison it would have been polite if you were merely frank about your motives. I was just not in a position to divulge information about my case and am still in a precarious position. I suppose that this is my way of asking what your motives were?

Since that last letter many things have changed. The most significant being that my appeals were denied across the board. There are other options open but that road becomes smaller as the days go by. Being in prison with a limited group of supporters makes it difficult to obtain evidence. Baring assistance from one of the many innocence projects that I have written I may be stuck with this burden for good. Not a good thought. 

As you can see I have been shuffled around and am now in Marquette at a Maximum security prison. I had a problem with staff at another prison for refusing to be a snitch when a guy got stabbed and therefore got railroaded to this place. I suppose that as far as max prisons go, this isn’t that bad. More restrictions and less allowable property. No jobs so money is non-existent. I lost a lot by being moved here from down state. Well, water under the bridge. 

There is a book being written and some garbage TV episode concerning my case. I can’t Google anything but there were news reports about it a few months back which my family told me of. Seems that one of the ideas deals with the people who set me up actually having the gall to write a book. Pathetic. That’s my luck.  

Well, since it has been so long I won’t make this a book and leave it up to you to write back. Might be interesting to find out what all’s going on. 

‘Til then, take care, John”

In early 2014 I wrote Wolfenbarger a letter explaining to him that I was beginning to work on a project involving the 2002 murders of the Pesce family. I explained that I was going into the project with an open mind and hoped to allow him a chance to explain his side of the story, something that at the time of writing had never happened aside from the aforementioned Facebook page.  

Weeks went by and he never responded, meanwhile co-defendant Dennis Lincoln wrote back almost immediately. Instead of writing again I decided to join a website called jpay dot com, a website that allows family, friends or complete strangers to talk with inmates provided that you know the inmate’s ‘Department of Corrections’ number. I added John as a listed inmate and before I ever had the chance to write I received a message from him. Unbeknownst to me at the time, inmates were alerted to someone adding them.   

“Who are you and why are you on my jpay account?”

I quickly wrote him back, mentioned I had recently written him a letter and briefly explained my reason for contacting him. At the time of writing him, I was nervous and couldn’t have possibly been more respectful to a man found guilty of murdering three children. Three days later I received the only response I would get from him.

“I have received dozens of letters over the years in connection to the crimes I was unjustly convicted of. I respond in kind to all that I maintain my innocence. Any questions pertaining to the crimes should be forwarded to Billy 'Wadd' Smith, the man guilty of murdering those members of the Pesce family. However, since he is a government informant last known to be in witness protection for cooperation that led to over 100 of his fellow bikers being indicted, you may not be able to track the lying twit down. He's on Facebook though.

I speak specifically to my attorneys and one author that I've been working with. There may be questions you have that I could answer but in all truth, I don't know you. There is no reason for me to speak to you on any level. You sent me a letter via the mail and asked things that you somehow feel the right in knowing. Insinuating things that you've either read or browsed on the net. Your search should of brought up a previous Facebook I had that detailed my stance. 

Twelve years now I've spent doing time for another’s' crime and the way you've approached me isn't conducive to communication from my end. A book on the subject you claim should have its proceeds dedicated to those who lost their lives and or the help of others.

Consider just how you want to speak to me and do so respectfully. That's how I confer with everyone.  - John

What’s noticeable upon reading anything written by Wolfenbarger is that he is paranoid, defensive and quick to blame everyone else for his problems. His response was enough for me to realize that I should leave him alone, however around Christmas that same year I wrote again. I offered him an apology for how he took my letter and informed him I had done almost a year’s worth of research and interviews and hoped we could talk. He never wrote back.