F.A.M.E.
Families Against Murder / For Equal Justice
Page Title: F.A.M.E. Profile
Founder Of F.A.M.E. (Bonnie J. Nunnally)
Bonnie
Nunnally founded F.A.M.E. (Families Against Murder / For Equal Justice) in
Battle Creek, Michigan in 1997 after the murder of her son, Jermel Smith.
Bonnie and her husband, Michael, did not feel that the judicial system performed
adequately in their behalf; therefore, after seeking help from existing
organizations, who showed no interest or concern for the problems that they were
experiencing, Bonnie decided to create her own organization. With the help of
her husband, and a few other individuals who shared her concerns, F.A.M.E. has
been able to establish itself as a recognized organization in the Battle Creek
area. Bonnie and Michael would also like to bring recognition to Alfred
Williams for his contribution and dedicated support. His effort has been
essential in helping to establish F.A.M.E. as a recognized and influential
organization.
The
Nunnally’s have stated that one of the most disappointing things that they
experienced after the tragedy that they experienced was the lack of concern and
support that they encountered from organizations that you would expect to be
sensitive to this type of traumatic occurrence, which they were facing at that
time. They contacted the leadership
of various organizations in order to solicit there advise as to how they might
go about addressing some of the concerns that they had regarding the manner in
which their son’s investigation was being conducted.
Unfortunately, no one was even interested enough to return their phone
calls so that they could discuss the issues with these so-called community
leaders. At this point, it became
quite obvious that they were going to have to champion their cause unilaterally.
In September of
1996, Bonnie began her long journey toward obtaining justice for her son’s
tragic murder. It was necessary
that she try to put her grieving aside so that she could have a clear
perspective as to the things that were going on. Several weeks had past since
her son was murdered, and at this point, no one from the police department had
taken a formal statement from Bonnie, or from her other two sons.
She asked the detective who was in charge of the investigation why she
had not been asked to give a formal statement as to what she knew about her
son's murder; however, just like many other questions that she asked, she never
got a direct answer. From that day on, Bonnie felt that the effectiveness of her
son's murder investigation had been seriously jeopardized because of negligence
on the part of the police department and the prosecutor's office. She made
numerous phone calls to the detective handling the case, in order to get a
progress report on the case, but her telephone calls were very seldom returned.
Finally, Bonnie and her husband got a chance to meet with the Chief of Police
and the County Prosecutor; however, after that meeting they became even more
frustrated and confused. At this point, Bonnie knew within her heart that they
would have to step up and speak out publicly, and try to rally some community
support in order to give them a louder voice in their effort to obtain justice
for Jermel’s murder. This is when
Bonnie realized that she needed some type of organization in which to launch
their complaints and dissatisfaction with the performance of the police
department and the prosecutor’s office. She
wanted to create an organization that would focus, not only on her personal
tragedy, but would also be sensitive to others who were struggling with those
same issues.
Bonnie
said that the idea of F.A.M.E. came to her in the form of a vision as she
pondered how to deal with her frustrations with the judicial system.
She had a specific concept in my mind, so her next step was to get it
down on paper in the form of a mission statement.
So with the help of Al Williams, her husband Michael and a few others who
shared their cause, they were able to put together a mission statement that
defined what they were trying to accomplish and the services that they wanted to
provide for surviving family members of homicide victims.
Our Mission Statement reads as follows: F.A.M.E.
provides the ongoing emotional support needed to help surviving family members
of homicides and violent crimes in the reconstruction of a new life, and to help
promote a healthy resolution. Not only will F.A.M.E. help survivors deal with
their acute grief, but also with the criminal justice system and the media as
well. The committee will also address other legitimate problems involving
individuals as well as problems that are community-based issues. The committee
will assist any survivor, and if possible, link that survivor with others in the
same vicinity of those who have survived the tragic loss of
their loved ones. F.A.M.E. is also available to provide individual assistance,
support and advocacy.
This statement
provides the basic framework for what the organization is about; however,
F.A.M.E. will support other community issues that offer legitimate concerns,
even those issues that are not necessarily consistent with their primary
mission.
F.A.M.E. has
provided assistance to grieving families by offering their support in a number
of different ways:
(1).
F.A.M.E. has established a Scholarship Fund for the children of unsolved
homicide victims. This fund is
designed to help provide some financial assistance for these children.
The parents must apply for this assistance through the Battle Creek
Community Foundation, which is the administrator of the fund.
The scholarship board will then evaluate the application, and if the
necessary criteria are meant, the request for assistance will be granted
accordingly.
(2).
Supported victimized families by helping to guide them through the proper
channels of the judicial system. Not
in terms of legal advice, but by directing them to the people that they need
to talk to in order to be kept informed of the investigation and any
questions that they may need answered.
The organization has also given their support by attending court
hearings with some of the families.
(3).
Held open forums in the city of Battle Creek to provide a platform
that would allow citizens and city officials to engage in dialog addressing
issues surrounding unsolved homicides, and possible measures to take as a
step forward in solving some of these cases.
(4).
Held Candlelight Vigils to recognize these victims and to let the
families know that we have not forgotten the loss that
they have suffered, and also to let law enforcement and the prosecutor’s
office know that we are still waiting for these cases to be given the
attention and effort toward solving them that they deserve.
(5).
Bonnie and Michael, along with the support of F.A.M.E. were
instrumental in the adopting of the Calhoun County Cold Case
Team, which began operations in May of 2002.
They worked relentlessly with Calhoun County Prosecutor John Hallacy
to finally get area law enforcement agencies to agree to bi-laterally
organize a Cold Case Task Force.
Summary:
Bonnie and Michael both feel that one of
the most important lessons learned during the difficult times that they have
been going through since the murder of their son is the fact that there are
options available to you in the event that you don’t feel that you have been
treated fairly by the judicial system. If
you have legitimate complaints you can take them to the next level, and that is
what Bonnie and Michael did in their pursuit for justice.
They took it all the way up to the Michigan State Attorney General’s
Office. By doing so, they got the
Michigan State Criminal Division and FBI involved in their case.
Although
the Murder of Jermel Smith remains an unsolved homicide in the city of Battle
Creek, Michigan, Bonnie and Michael Nunnally are still determined to see that
Jermel’s case, as well as other cases which appear to be at an impasse, will
continue to stay alive in the community and not be swept under the carpet by
local officials of any other judicial agency.
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