The state of Michigan has decided to relinquish ownership of a valuable artifact recovered from the historic Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. This decision comes shortly after the state acquired the artifact as part of a settlement in an unrelated lawsuit. Larry Orr, a key figure in the lawsuit over police misconduct, will receive the ship’s life ring back, with the state agreeing to pay $600,000 to settle the legal dispute.
Orr, aged 77, expressed relief and satisfaction with the resolution. In 1975, just eight days after the tragic sinking of the Fitzgerald in Lake Superior, Orr discovered the life ring and a fragment of a lifeboat on the shores of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Recalling the somber moment, Orr mentioned a sense of eerie anticipation that perhaps a survivor had left behind these items, though no evidence of life was found.
Fast forward to the present day, Orr was engaged in discussions with the Michigan State Police to resolve a lawsuit stemming from alleged rights violations during a previous investigation. The lawsuit, centered around misconduct by Lt. David Busacca in a discredited sexual abuse case that led to Orr’s wrongful incarceration, was being negotiated. During these talks, the state unexpectedly expressed interest in the Fitzgerald life ring, which Orr had in his possession, leading to a complex turn of events.
Feeling somewhat coerced but also in need of financial stability to relocate from his current residence in Yulee, Fla., Orr, along with his attorney Shannon Smith, agreed to include the life ring in the settlement deal. This inclusion resulted in the settlement amount increasing from approximately $300,000 to $600,000, though Orr remarked that he believed he deserved more compensation for the ordeal he endured.
The unusual nature of the deal was first reported by The Associated Press on Oct. 23, prompting inquiries as to its appropriateness. In response, the state police spokesperson, Shanon Banner, expressed discomfort with the situation. Subsequent discussions among legal representatives led to a revised agreement where Orr will regain possession of the life ring, and the state will honor the $600,000 settlement to resolve the police misconduct lawsuit.
For many years, Orr had loaned the distinctive orange life ring, bearing the name “Fitzgerald,” to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Mich., for public display. However, with the artifact now set to return to his possession, Orr is contemplating selling it at an auction to secure finances for purchasing a modular home and replacing his wife’s ailing vehicle.
In his own words, Orr emphasized the financial strain he faces, stating, “I need all the money I can get.”
