The search is on at a Benzie County home for evidence that will link William Minore to several armed bank robberies in Northern Michigan.
Earlier this month William Minore was arrested for stealing a car in Glen Arbor.
But both the Leelanau and Benzie County Sheriff’s Offices say he is also a suspect in the armed bank robbery that happened in Empire earlier this month.
And the two that happened in Lake Ann last year.
For the past several weeks multiple agencies have been working to connect Minore to the bank robberies.
Minore is also facing felony drug charges in Benzie County for maintaining a drug house and possession of marijuana.
He is also charged with having sun guns in Grand Traverse County.
The FBI has been called in to help search his property.
9&10’s Caroline Powers and photojournalist Harrison Light continue our armed bank robbery investigation coverage.
Since 9a.m. Monday morning nearly a dozen agents from the FBI have been at William Minore’s house, finding anything that can connect him to the Empire and Lake Ann bank robberies.
“We’re hoping to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. We want to expose the truth.”
It’s been nearly three weeks since the Huntington Bank in Empire was robbed at gunpoint.
And more than a year since the Lake Ann bank was first robbed.
But the Leelanau and Benzie County Sheriffs say their investigation points to William Minore as a suspect.
“It’s not unrealistic to think that he’s a suspect in our two robberies,” Benzie County Sheriff Ted Schendel says.
The FBI Evidence Response Team has been actively searching Minore’s property.
“Looking for evidence of cell phones, evidence of possibly firearms and possibly money that we think may have been taken from the bank,” says Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Borkovich.
“We have a K-9 from customs and border protection that’s a currency and weapons dog,” says Leslie Larsen, special agent with the FBI ERT. “We have metal detectors going on to see if we can recover any evidence that might be below ground.”
Neighbors hope investigators can make the connection.
“It’s great that this is now maybe being put to rest and make whatever connections need to be made with other crimes,” says Thomas Hirsch.
“Obviously when you’re getting close, of course you’re excited and not just for us, but for the community,” Sheriff Schendel says. “If we can put the pieces of the puzzle together and wrap this up then we’re extremely excited.”
If you have any additional information that can help with the investigation you’re asked to call the Leelanau or Benzie County Sheriff’s Office.
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