ski resort double murder-1978

[Andy]

Does anybody know anything about this crime ? Just read TROOPERS 2 and it doesn't say what ski resort or who was murdered.

[Josh]

Andy wrote:

Does anybody know anything about this crime ? Just read TROOPERS 2 and it doesn't say what ski resort or who was murdered.

New look at Ski Wing murders - Olean Times Hearld
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2002...

On Feb. 6, 1978, two nighttime ski slope groomers were gunned down inside the Ski Wing lodge in what police believe was a “burglary gone sour.” The two apparently surprised burglars who were chipping away at a safe set in concrete in the floor of a closet in the manager’s office.

Police theorize a third employee, a janitor, likely escaped death when he fell asleep watching TV at home and didn’t show up for work until about 3 a.m. He was supposed to report at midnight, about the time his colleagues were shot.

The victims, Stephen Bender, 30, and Michael Forness, 29, had come in off the slopes when one of the grooming vehicles broke down. They were each shot three times, once in the back of the head, execution style.

[Andy]

JOSH , Thanks alot for the info.

[gwenny]

does anyone know what the janitors name was?

[Andy]

I also wondered who the janitor was.

[gwenny]

do you have any other info than whats listed in here? very littkle is on the net

[Andy]

NO other info. Been searching but can't get a hit on anything pertaining to this crime...

[gwenny]

me either, have looked everywhere, if the case has been reopened, you may think there would be some information.
I am intrigued....

[Andy]

Hey Gwenny,You must be into these old unsolved crimes like me.I have it in my google and I keep searching too.Do you think it's a little suspicious that somebody was suppose to be at work at midnite and overslept? Our crime unit just arrested a guy for a murder from 1973 and everybody thought this guy did it from the get-go.

[Mitch]

I barely remember this case, it is 30 years old and nothing on the web. The ski resort closed shortly after, I believe.

Thanks to Josh for finding the info that he did.

WHO is the janitor, was he cleared? Of all nights, he overslept and comes in late.

[Gwenny]

yep, get into one case and I cant stop looking for the info.. just a real mystery lover, and grew up in the area...
Some Questions:
Whats the janitors work history like before this, ever sleep in before?
whats his record after the incident.. and before for that matter.
How did the assailants know to look in the managers office?
How did they know the two snowmakers werent going to be in the building.. or the janitor.. or for that matter.. security.
had to have been more than 1..
How did they know to bring tools to chisel the safe? from the floor for that matter...specially if the safe was out of site and in the closet of the managers office.
What was the issue with the snow vehicle.. had it had issues before?
was it tampered with?
The safe was found under a bridge.. was it directly under?/ i noticed in one statement they said under.. depending on the current, could the safe have moved or would the assailants had to have walked down any type of terrain to place it there.. said it was 175 1bs..any clues left, cigarette butts, shoe prints etc...
so many questions..

[Gwenny]

All I am saying is if someone was smart enough to know all the information about where the safe was and what tools to bring, they must have been educated on the hrs that people work... i mean.. they must have researched some.
we need a profile

[Andy]

Yah, how would somebody know about the safe in the floor, way too many ??????,s..........

[gwenny]

for having such extensive evidence.. there just seems to be no info, checking other resources....
wondering if the family is/ has done anything... cant find obits or anything

[gwenny]

On Feb 6 1978, the day of, there was a blizzard... snowmakers were making snow when aprox 27 inches of snow hit NY?
I wonder who owned the place then..

[Andy]

A friend of mine found on the net a Bruce Thomas Forness SR. who passed 10/21/08,born 11/29/1928...Born in Olean NY..It says MICHAEL FORNESS preceded BRUCE, maybe the son????

[gwenny]

looking, you would think family would want justice, just cant find anything..

[gwenny]

could it be a nephew? i see that now.

[gwenny]

http://www.sports1234.com/outdoor-recreation/...
found this
i know what u mean now

[Andy]

WOW, How'd did you locate that ? If it were my family member,I don't think I could forget about it. Small article but nice..