Episode 8: The Empty Grave

John Wisely, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
Where Secrets Go To Die podcast
Where Secrets Go To Die podcast

Episode 8: The Empty Grave

Dyanna Maddox appears in court on felony charges that could send her to prison for years.

In this final episode, reporter John Wisely hears from Dyanna herself. Meghan Moeggenborg ponders her father’s legacy and what she plans to do about it. A person very close to Derrick also emerges and longs for a simple, though specific, outcome to the Henagan case.

Rayce Henagan poses for a portrait in his Kalamazoo home. Henagan was six years old when his father, Derrick, disappeared from the Upper Peninsula. Police believe he was murdered even without being able to locate a body. Rayce looks to find answers in the more than decade-old case.
Rayce Henagan poses for a portrait in his Kalamazoo home. Henagan was six years old when his father, Derrick, disappeared from the Upper Peninsula. Police believe he was murdered even without being able to locate a body. Rayce looks to find answers in the more than decade-old case.

Who’s who: Judge William Carmody, who sentenced Dyanna. Josh Freed, former Luce County Prosecutor. Brian Rahilly, Dyanna’s defense attorney. Mary Ott, Dyanna’s sister. Rayce Henagan, Derrick’s son. Meghan Moeggenborg, Michigan State Police Trooper David Moeggenborg’s daughter and Tressa Beltran, former Hartford police chief.

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Editor’s note: Capt. Clint Michelin, the former commander of the Michigan State Police in the Upper Peninsula who spoke to the Free Press about the Henagan case, was later placed on administrative leave as the department investigated an embezzlement allegation against him. He was accused of misappropriating state property, specifically several boulders from outside the State Police Negaunee post that were used to construct a retaining wall at his lakefront property. Michelin insisted that he paid for the rocks and provided copies of a contractor’s invoice and check. Records obtained by the Free Press show that the Michigan Attorney General’s office reviewed the findings and declined to press charges. Michelin retired in September 2023.

Former Hartford Police Chief Tressa Beltran, who spoke to the Free Press about Derrick Henagan was later accused of stealing prescription drugs from a medication drop box at the city police department. She pled guilty to one count of delivery or possession with intent to deliver less than 50 grams of a controlled substance and using a computer to commit a crime. Sentencing is scheduled for June 24.

If you need help: For resources to help with cases of suspected child sexual assault, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at  1-800-422-4453.

For domestic violence resources, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or go to thehotline.org.

For substance misuse and mental health resources, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 800-662-HELP or go to samhsa.gov/

For sexual violence resources, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network can connect survivors of sexual violence to support services at 800-656-HOPE or through the website rainn.org

To report a suspected case of human trafficking, visit humantrafficking.org or call their hotline at 888-373-7888 to submit a confidential tip or to access resources to help victims and survivors.

Contact us: 248-702-4092 or through encrypted email at wiselyj@proton.me

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Credits: John Wisely, Darcie Moran, Tad Davis, Robin Chan, Kathleen Galligan, Garrett Tiedemann, Adrienne Roberts, Kathy Kieliszewski, Jim Schaefer and Anjanette Delgado. Nicole Avery Nichols is editor of the Detroit Free Press.

Our theme music is “Abyss,” an original song by Camilla Cantu and Brian Castillo.

Check back later for a full transcript of this episode.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Where Secrets Go To Die' podcast — Episode 8: The Empty Grave