George Kennedy's parole officer urged corrections officials three times to send the convicted sex offender back to prison for violating the terms of his parole, but each time the officer's supervisors overruled the recommendations.
Kennedy, 39, who has been named by police as a person of interest in the murder of 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan, was released from prison in July 2007, after serving five years for having sex with a 15-year-old girl. Within three months of his release, he had violated the terms of his parole, said John Cordell, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections.
"In September 2007, his (parole officer) violated him for consorting with other people who had felony records," Cordell said.
Instead of going back to prison, he was sent to the Ingham County Jail for 30 days, Cordell said. After his release, Kennedy was put on a GPS tether.
But within two months, Kennedy had violated the rules of his tether placement by not being at home during the time ordered. So he was sent to the Tuscola County "technical re-entry program" for 90 days, Cordell said. "That's a program that gives intense therapy to those who need a period of adjustment," Cordell said.
Kennedy's parole officer reported a third violation in December 2008, this time because he had a romantic relationship with a woman who had a criminal record and was the parent of a minor child -- both violations of his parole, Cordell said. Kennedy was again sent to the Tuscola program.
Cordell said proper action was taken by corrections officials.
"In two years, for a parole officer to ask that an offender be sent back to prison isn't out of the norm," he said. "It's the parole officer's job to report violations, and then it's the supervisor's job to determine if the violation was bad enough to warrant sending the offender back to prison.
"In this case, the supervisor obviously thought it better to send (Kennedy) back for more intense therapy."
Kennedy since has been arrested. He is incarcerated in the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center in Jackson. Kennedy was returned to prison because of his friendship with Jennifer Buchanan, a convicted felon who had a minor child, Nevaeh, Cordell said.
Roy Lee Smith, a convicted rapist who also was arrested for a parole violation after being named a person of interest in the murder case, also was sent to the Egeler Center because he violated his parole by having a relationship with Jennifer Buchanan.
Prior to that, Smith's parole officer reported last year that he'd violated his parole when a drug test showed he'd been abusing narcotics, Cordell said.
"That's not a violation that would typically send you back to prison," he said.
Buchanan, who served 13 months in prison for a home invasion, also has consorted with convicted felons -- but she had served her entire sentence and thus was not on parole, Cordell said. He explained that offenders who have served their sentences do not have the restriction on contact with other felons.
Meanwhile, police continue to investigate convicted sex offenders in the area for possible clues.
According to neighbors, FBI agents have twice visited the Monroe home of Vernon Davis, a 33-year-old man who was convicted in May 2007 of having sex with a minor younger than 16. Davis served no prison time for the offense, records show.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry reports that Davis' home address is an apartment complex on Bacon near downtown Monroe. But his neighbor, 24-year-old Katherine Taormina, said Davis is never there. She said FBI agents questioned her about Davis after Nevaeh was reported missing.
"They came by here twice," Taormina said. "They asked if I'd seen him. They told us they were trying to get information about where he was when the girl disappeared. I told them I know he's supposed to be living here, but he never comes here. He usually stays down in Toledo."
Also Monday, Wayne County Medical Examiner Carl Schmidt said he had not yet completed Nevaeh's autopsy. He added that any further information would have to come from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's officials on Monday did not return telephone calls seeking comment.
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