Union Denies Exploiting Girl's Death

The death of Nevaeh Buchanan is now a hot button issue in Lansing. Questions are being raised about the two convicted sex offenders who were close to the family and how they got out of prison in the first place. However, some believe Nevaeh's death is being exploited.

"I'm angry," said State Corrections Director Patricia Caruso. "Shame on you."

Caruso was responding to a published report in the MIRS newsletter published in Lansing suggesting a link between the Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (MPRI) and the death of the Buchanan girl.

UAW Local 6000 contends there are flaws in the MPRI system that could lead to crimes.

Director Caruso was asked "So, you believe the union is trying to use this issue, this little girl's death, to advance their union agenda?" She responded, "I'm ashamed to even say that because I would hate to think that anyone affiliated with our department in any way would do that, but it appears that way."

We asked union official Alan Kilar of UAW 6000 if they were trying to exploit this little girl's death. He responded, "No. We're not asking for more agents. We're asking for more services for our community there. For our members. ... We have nothing to gain by it."

Sen. Alan Cropsey chaired the hearing in which a union spokesperson said the Buchanan murder "may just be the tip of the iceberg". However, he defends the union on the linkage issue. "No, I don't think they're actually linking the two. I think they're saying there's crime that's going to be happening if we don't have better oversight. There's going to be more crime and this could be one of them," he said.

Kyle Melinn, the MIRS reporter who covered the story, confirms the union never made a direct link. He adds, "They didn't directly say MPRI created this. They did not say that."

Bottom line, Kilar says he has talked to Director Caruso and they have patched up their differences.