IL IL - Christine Dewitt, 15, Dolton, 28 May 1974

[gogrannypop]

Wow. I just read this thread and I am so impressed with the warmth and compassion shown here.

I have been down lately about all of the tragedy, but now I am assured that there are so many sincerely good people in the world.

 

[shadowangel]

Just to show how, in so many cases, a bit of information here ties to a bit of information there...
I found a 1974 article from an Indiana paper which states that local police were searching for a black and white (colors previously mentioned) Camaro (previously mentioned also, but orange) with three persons inside that was believed to be tied to the murder.

A case in which a young girl is murdered, a large white car might be involved, and the area is in the Chicago vicinity---

After being so deeply involved in the case of Debbie Fijan's murder, its going to get my attention.

 

[Cubby]

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...BAJ&pg=2397,5089810&dq=christine-dewitt&hl=en

One older non PTV article about Christines case. I can't help but wonder if she was at a party in a forest preserve where there no witnesses which might have seen Christine speaking with anyone or noticed the vehicle in question?

Looking but so far not finding any information from witnesses who last saw Christine at this forest preserve party.

Also wondering if LE has any DNA from the perps..... Lots of questions here.... and even though this happened so many years ago, I still believe it is solvable. Especially with current technology and possible witnesses who may have the piece of the puzzle LE needs to close/solve this case.

 

[AfriendofChris]

After Patrick's article came out, I contacted the detective on the case and organized a meeting with all of Chris's girlfriends at the time and the detective.

The days following the murder, I was questioned about the events of her last day and spent hours at the police station looking at mug shots. Someone in our community reported that they saw her that night with me and I was reportedly the last person to see her. That was not true. I remember a lot of misinformation during the investigation.

We (about six or seven girls) were all with her that day and planned to meet that evening, but she did not show up. I remember wondering where she was and thinking that she probably could not come because she had a caring strict mother. "I wonder where Chris is?" was mentioned more than a few times.

Her family started looking for her before midnight, when she did not return home. They were calling her friends and I received a phone call at 4am or 5am with the news that she was found.

In 2006, when we met with the detective working the case, we spent a couple of hours rehashing the events of that day and offered any information that would help the case.

Unfortunately, it did not go any anywhere and I believe the evidence has been misplaced. Apparently when the Calumet City police department moved into a new facility, the evidence went missing, was misplaced or is lost.

I doubt whoever did this is still alive. It was such a brutal murder and I have to believe that justice came to them (I also believe it was more than one person) most likely in a violent way.

Chris was a wonderful girl. She was somewhat shy, very kind and beautiful. She is not forgotten. I remember our innocence at the time. It was lost way too early.

She had a wonderful family. They were all very nice and reserved. My heart will always ache for her and her family.

 

[Volume]

I want to take time to digest what you wrote about Dolton but I am going out in a few minutes and I wanted to summarize what I found at the library.

There were no references in the Tribune to the girl whose webpage you linked to. During the same timeframe 2 girls from Dolton did disappear and turn up dead. However, both deaths sound like suicides.

On October 15, 1969, Wendy Gunde or Gnade, a 15 year old from Ellis Avenue, disappeared after being taken to Thornridge High by her father. The October 24th Tribune reported her missing. It later was reported that she did not like school and that the police had searched for her in Old Town (Chicago equivalent of Haight Ashberry?). But in March, 1970 two boys found her purse on the bank of the Little Calumet River. South Holland fireman police dragged the river and found her clothed body, too badly decomposed to determine a cause of death, by the C&E Railroad Bridge.

On December 1, 1974, Judy Harper, 17, of Van Buren Street was found fully clothed in the Little Calumet between Highland and Hammond, IN. She had last been seen hitchhiking home from a friend's house in Highland. Her purse was found untouched on shore.

Otherwise I ran a lot of searches for Dolton, South Holland, Cal City for "missing", etc. between 1970 and 1979 and came up with nothing

What can you tell me about the Wendy Gunde or Gnade death? I have a personal reason for asking. I'd like to find out more about this if possible. Can anyone who has any info on this. I appreciate your help.

 

[ChaCha]

http://gnade.net/drgnade/?p=1
As a teenager Jerry met the first love of his life, Edith Dufel, whom he wed in 1944. Jerry and Edie were blessed with five children – Carol (1946), Wendy (1954), Diane (1955), and twins, Gail and Gerard (“Gary”) Rudolph, III (1956). Though their marriage ended they remained fond of each other until the end.
Wendy’s short life ended tragically at the age of 15 but our memories live on.
------
In a purchased Tribune Archive article entitled "Missing" pg 24 on 10/24/1969 it says on 10/15/1969 Wendy was taken to Thornridge HS by her father Dr. Gerald Gnade. Wendy was 5', 3" tall 125 lbs had blonde hair and hazel eyes.

In another purchased Tribune Archive article entitled "Parents ask for help in finding girl" on pg N7 10/18/1969. It said friends had reported seeing her that afternoon but no one heard from her since.

In the last purchased Tribune Archive article entitled Dolton Girl's body found in little Calumet by William Gaines March 3, 1970. Her body was discovered under the Chicago and Eastern RR bridge. Two boys flying kites in Veteran's Park discovered her purse. She was found in same blue sweater and slacks she had on when she disappeared. Her father said at the time of her disappearance she wasn't happy with school. The site was 2 miles from HS and 8 blocks from her home.

She was a very beautiful girl a sophomore at Thornridge HS and had friends all over, including Crete, IL. It was mentioned earlier someone thought it a suicide. But I don't think that is so.

If anyone has any information on this cold case or Christine's they should contact the Cook County State Attorney Cold Case Unit at (773) 674-3470

 

[ChaCha]

Map where she was found, lived and went to school http://goo.gl/maps/GG7kt

http://gnade.net/drgnade/?p=1
As a teenager Jerry met the first love of his life, Edith Dufel, whom he wed in 1944. Jerry and Edie were blessed with five children – Carol (1946), Wendy (1954), Diane (1955), and twins, Gail and Gerard (“Gary”) Rudolph, III (1956). Though their marriage ended they remained fond of each other until the end.
Wendy’s short life ended tragically at the age of 15 but our memories live on.
------
In a purchased Tribune Archive article entitled "Missing" pg 24 on 10/24/1969 it says on 10/15/1969 Wendy was taken to Thornridge HS by her father Dr. Gerald Gnade. Wendy was 5', 3" tall 125 lbs had blonde hair and hazel eyes.

In another purchased Tribune Archive article entitled "Parents ask for help in finding girl" on pg N7 10/18/1969. It said friends had reported seeing her that afternoon but no one heard from her since.

In the last purchased Tribune Archive article entitled Dolton Girl's body found in little Calumet by William Gaines March 3, 1970. Her body was discovered under the Chicago and Eastern RR bridge. Two boys flying kites in Veteran's Park discovered her purse. She was found in same blue sweater and slacks she had on when she disappeared. Her father said at the time of her disappearance she wasn't happy with school. The site was 2 miles from HS and 8 blocks from her home.

She was a very beautiful girl a sophomore at Thornridge HS and had friends all over, including Crete, IL. It was mentioned earlier someone thought it a suicide. But I don't think that is so.

If anyone has any information on this cold case or Christine's they should contact the Cook County State Attorney Cold Case Unit at (773) 674-3470

 

[ChaCha]

Illinois State Police Unsolved Crimes. If you have any information regarding the crimes listed below, please contact the appropriate authorities, or send an e-mail to [email protected]. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact your local ISP District.

 

[ChaCha]

I was told to contact the ISP cold case unit - I posted the contact info recently and you can do so anonymously.

I spoke with my son in law, who is a police officer, and he said that it'd do no good going to the police because I really have to information that would help them in a case that is over 30 years old.
The girl's name is Christine DeWitt (known as Chris DeWitt). It happened in (as I remember) May of 1974 in Illinois. I believe she was from Dolton Illinois, and her body was discovered in Calumet City Illinois. There is just nothing online about it, and I'm really surprised by that.
I wasn't abducted. I was almost adbucted. A man, probably about 25 to 35 years old with dark hair and a mustache pulled to the side of the road and asked me (I was walking) for directions. I couldn't hear him clearly, and realized after the fact that he was mumbling on purpose with the hope that I'd get closer to his car so I could hear him. After telling him "what?" a couple of times, I ended up right next to his car, on the passenger side. He asked me the location of a nearby street, and as I turned to point in the direction of the street, he leaned over from the driver's side and grabbed me by the collar and pulled me into his car. My legs from the knees down were still hanging out the window, and luckily, he had both of his hands occupied. One was holding onto the collar of my shirt, and the other was down the front of my shirt. I was literally less than an inch from his face, and his eyes had a crazed look. I balled up one of my fists and I punched him as hard as I possibly could right in the nose. He let go of me when he reacted by grabbing for his own face, and I backed out of the window and ran like the dickens.

 

[ninaharp]

In reference to Judy Harper who was found Dec. 1, 1974, where were you able to find this information? Her killer is about to be released and was never convicted of this crime. She did not commit suicide, rather her killer knew she could not swim and staged it as a suicide. The detective on the case passed away a number of years ago and the Highland and Dolton PD's dropped it. To prevent this killer from harming anyone else I have contacted a PI to look into this. Any information that you have would be helpful. Thank you in advance. Nina Harp

 

[Ashley Dewitt]

Years ago when I was in high school, a girl I went to school with was murdered. While she wasn't a good friend, she was an acquaintence. She was abducted and murdered at 15 years of age in 1974. As far as I know, the murder went unsolved and to the best of my knowledge, nothing ever came of it...no suspects, no nothing. I never met her parents, but was told that her parents are unable to deal with it at all.
Right around the time her body was found, a man had attempted to abduct me. I'm a bit haunted by that experience, mostly because I never told an adult about it for fear that my parents would forever keep me locked up in my room out of fear that I'd be kidnapped because I apparently didn't have enough common sense not to approach a stranger's vehicle.
I remember the car (a large white car) and I remember what the man looked like. I've always wondered if there were any witnesses or anything, because maybe there was a connection.
I've looked in newspaper archives, on microfiche (sp) at the local libraries, and can't find a thing about this case. The only thing I was able to find is a local author who wrote a fiction book about a girl who was murdered, and fictionalized the real life murder of this girl in the book. I did have contact with the author, and she suggested I contact the police department in the city where the girl's body was found. My son in law is a police officer, and he said that it's pretty much certain that nothing would be done. Plus, I'd hate to open old wounds for any of her family members.
Does anyone know how to find out if the guy who tried to abduct me was by any chance involved in this murder?

Hello my name is Ashley Dewitt the girl you went to school was my cousin I'm trying to figure out what happen to her I know some stuff about her but I will like to know more about her if I can

 

[jb9672]

I wounder if this could be a tie to the tina Davidson case ? tina was a 15 year old girl who lived in racine wi and was killed on 3-26-1973. to this day they have not found her killer or kills and a friend of mine has a fb group and pod cast heres the link to my friends pod cast on well tina and some other things we looked at to see if they had any ties to tinas case Listen to Searching for Closure on TuneIn

 

[Peggy H.]

I was told to contact the ISP cold case unit - I posted the contact info recently and you can do so anonymously.

What town where u in when that happened. I had a similar situation happen to me in So. Holland.

 

[Peggy H.]

Hello my name is Ashley Dewitt the girl you went to school was my cousin I'm trying to figure out what happen to her I know some stuff about her but I will like to know more about her if I can

I am also looking for Wendy Gnade, their stories sound similar.

 

[Peggy H.]

Years ago when I was in high school, a girl I went to school with was murdered. While she wasn't a good friend, she was an acquaintence. She was abducted and murdered at 15 years of age in 1974. As far as I know, the murder went unsolved and to the best of my knowledge, nothing ever came of it...no suspects, no nothing. I never met her parents, but was told that her parents are unable to deal with it at all.
Right around the time her body was found, a man had attempted to abduct me. I'm a bit haunted by that experience, mostly because I never told an adult about it for fear that my parents would forever keep me locked up in my room out of fear that I'd be kidnapped because I apparently didn't have enough common sense not to approach a stranger's vehicle.
I remember the car (a large white car) and I remember what the man looked like. I've always wondered if there were any witnesses or anything, because maybe there was a connection.
I've looked in newspaper archives, on microfiche (sp) at the local libraries, and can't find a thing about this case. The only thing I was able to find is a local author who wrote a fiction book about a girl who was murdered, and fictionalized the real life murder of this girl in the book. I did have contact with the author, and she suggested I contact the police department in the city where the girl's body was found. My son in law is a police officer, and he said that it's pretty much certain that nothing would be done. Plus, I'd hate to open old wounds for any of her family members.
Does anyone know how to find out if the guy who tried to abduct me was by any chance involved in this murder?

 

[Peggy H.]

Daga, Where did that happen to u, same thing happened to me in so. Holland in 1980/81. I luckily didn't get close to the car but it was a white car, like a towncar or something like that. I went to the front door of a nearby house and pretended I live there and the guy took off like a bat out of hell. I will never forget it. Apparently someone in the so.hollqnd/Dolton area where stalking young girls.

 

[Peggy H.]

To the best of my knowledge, the crime was never solved. I don't even know if they ever had a suspect. I do remember something about a Camaro or Firebird being chased, but I don't know if they even were able to establish any sort of solid connection between the murder and the car. The guy who tried to abduct me was definitely not driving a Camaro or Firebird. It was more like a Cadillac or Lincoln...maybe a Mercury or Buick though.
I think it's so bizarre in this day and age that there isn't some sort of all encompassing database out there for all unsolved murders.

Daga, I want to connect these murders and abductions and we all have the same story. Wendy Gnade was seen in a red/orange Camaro, to much if a coincidence.

 

[Peggy H.]

I am also looking for Wendy Gnade, their stories sound similar.

To Ashley Dewitt.

 

[Peggy H.]

I'd contact the Cal City PD

My cousin used to be on cal city police but long after these crimes but I'm gonna send him a message and see what he says.

 

[Citigal1962]

My cousin used to be on cal city police but long after these crimes but I'm gonna send him a message and see what he says.

Hi. Did you ever reach out to your cousin? What was the response? Tina was my cousin. I was 11 when this happened. Thank you.