Michael Willison, 39, was found dead in Riverside, California, on January 14, 2001. Law enforcement described his death as the result of a violent, drug-related encounter that led investigators to treat the case as a homicide.

Prosecutors charged Joshua Blaine Wahlert and Tracy Leean Garrison in connection with Willison’s murder, alleging the two conspired to kidnap and rob him. Authorities said Wahlert fired a gun during the incident, inflicting the fatal wounds, and both defendants faced charges that included murder, robbery, and kidnapping. Court filings presented a portrait of a volatile relationship among the parties, with testimony that Garrison had manipulated Wahlert and that their personal disputes helped motivate the crime.

Garrison was convicted of first-degree murder and given a sentence of life without the possibility of parole; Wahlert received a comparable sentence with added penalties for firearm use. The case generated multiple appeals by the defense; appeals were rejected and the convictions were upheld.

Did anyone who knew Michael, Wahlert, or Garrison have information about their relationships or Willison’s activities in Riverside before January 14, 2001?