IL IL - Debbie Fijan, 10, DuPage County, 11 Feb 1966 - #1

[Cubby]

Pay-to- view snippets of quotes from John Schofield, LS's father.

SEEK KNIFE IN DEBBIE DEATH
[SIZE=-1]Pay-Per-View - Chicago Tribune - ProQuest Archiver[SIZE=-1] - Feb 16, 1966[/SIZE]
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]"My boy is a good boy. He's never been in before. This is his second year in the Benjamin Elementary school. He loves children and they love him," he said. ... [/SIZE]

SEEK KNIFE IN DEBBIE DEATH
[SIZE=-1]Pay-Per-View - Chicago Tribune - ProQuest Archiver[SIZE=-1] - Feb 16, 1966
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]He loves children and they love him," he said. The father broke down and wept as his son s wife entered the room and said: "They've charged him with murder. ... [/SIZE]

SEEK KNIFE IN DEBBIE DEATH
[SIZE=-1]Pay-Per-View - Chicago Tribune - ProQuest Archiver[SIZE=-1] - Feb 16, 1966[/SIZE]
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]As the elder Schofield sobbed, he kept repeating, "It can t be, it can t be." Mrs. Warren Stark, who lives with her husband and nine chil- dren just north [/SIZE]

more snippets about Mrs. WS in post #297 above direct link to that post:
[[/SIZE]url="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4928422&postcount=297"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Debbie Fijan age 10 abducted and murdered Feb 1966[/url]




There was another article snippet indicating if he is guilty he should be put somewhere he should not be around children. And... something about I or we don't want to send him to the chair or to prison...... but I will have to try and find them again. ETA: those snippets were from Debbies parents, so I will not include them with snippets from JS.

I wonder if JS's reaction was part of the reason LS quit cooperating? But LS quit cooperating on Monday the 14th, I don't know if the above happened on Monday the 14th or Wednesday the 16th.

 

[Cubby]

If the crime scene was outside either on the snowy, icy, muddy ground wouldn't evidence show so in her clothing? Or would that info possibly be lost as a result of Debbie being placed/found in the ditch?

 

[Cubby]

Teacher at West Chicago Fails 6 Lie Tests

[SIZE=-1]Pay-Per-View - Chicago Tribune - ProQuest Archiver[SIZE=-1] - Feb 15, 1966[/SIZE]
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Debbie, a 5th grader in the Benjamin school, had been re- ported missing at 6:44 p. m. after she failed to return home from an intramural basketball game in ... [/SIZE]

This article indicates Debbie was reported missing at 6:44pm.

 

[Cubby]

I sent off an email request to John Dempsey with WLS AM 890 radio requesting his assistance with finding someone to run another story about Debbies case. He is the only local media person I know as he went to school with my sons father and godfather- and they are still friends that I know of.... He has been in broadcasting for 25 years and won several awards.

keep your fingers crossed he can provide me with a few names numbers and emails for someone at the Daily Herald who might be interested in this story, or perhaps the major Chicago media might be interested.

http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=406665&spid=6789

 

[Cubby]

Sent off another email to my local LE contact hoping he too might be able to put us in touch with some names from the Daily Herald.

Shared a little of what we have found as well. While he is not with DuPage but a town in DuP' it is still nice to network with local LE.

I have a few other ideas to contact for media requests so will post as I get them done.

 

[shadowangel]

A few thoughts on questions posed...

If there's anything to the Starks' observation, then LS left the school, stopped at his parents at 6, and was home to take the call at 6:30... Unless I'm mistaken, isnt it like pitch dark in the Chicago area around 6pm in early February? How much weight can be given to any statement made about observations in that area?

Good question about a DNA profile on LS. Im certain he would have been printed, if for no other reason than he was arrested and charged with murder. The part that boggles my mind (among many other things in this case) is that bail was granted in what had to be a charge of second degree murder (and a fairly low bail, even for 1966).
Blood, though...Im not sure they had reason to compel a blood sample, except possibly to compare to blood found on Debbie. However, nail scrapings during an autopsy were common, so if Debbie had scratched her attacker--and the report that LS had scratches certainly makes me think so--then there should be something with which to make a DNA comparison.

I think an important thought to keep in mind is that LS was never cleared, never exonerated, never found not guilty. A grand jury looked at the evidence and decided that there was not enough evidence presented to support a charge of murder.

 

[shadowangel]

If the crime scene was outside either on the snowy, icy, muddy ground wouldn't evidence show so in her clothing? Or would that info possibly be lost as a result of Debbie being placed/found in the ditch?

Thats what I think. As she was found in an "icy ditch", it would have been nearly impossible to determine from her clothing where the attack had taken place, unless something not consistent with that area (finding hay from a farm, for instance) I don't think it would have been possible to make a determination. At least by the technological standards of today...This being the primary reason we really need this case to be looked at again, and closely.

 

[shadowangel]

The 6:30 call LS is claiming...Was that to inform him of Debbie's disappearance? As she wasnt reported missing until 6:44, we have yet another inconsistency in LS's story. I guess Mary Ann didnt coach him quite as well as they thought.

 

[Cubby]

Maybe we can get David Lohr to look at this case? I don't know if he looks at cases this old. I can certainly email him and find out.

I really can't say what DuPage did or did not collect or save as evidence back in 1966. I only know the little bits of DuPage 'csi' from old articles we found back then. I agree, Debbies case would be a jump on this case for any national cold case crime show. Almost a given, a story waiting to be found and told.

 

[Cubby]

The 6:30 call LS is claiming...Was that to inform him of Debbie's disappearance? As she wasnt reported missing until 6:44, we have yet another inconsistency in LS's story. I guess Mary Ann didnt coach him quite as well as they thought.

I remember reading a non official start or LS got a call at 6:30. I can't say where out the the many articles I've read. Maybe the 6:44 was when LE was officially notified?

 

[Cubby]

From Shadow'

I think an important thought to keep in mind is that LS was never cleared, never exonerated, never found not guilty. A grand jury looked at the evidence and decided that there was not enough evidence presented to support a charge of murder.

Very important points Shadow which are in the forefront of my mind in this case.

 

[LisaWilliams]

Awhile back in the posts I recall you searching information on LS's father. I was speaking to my mom about this last night and she recalled that LS's father drowned in a fishing accident only several months after all this occurred. She is not sure where it happened, only that he was on some fishing trip (Alaska, Minnesota) and drowned.

 

[shadowangel]

An April 5th, 1967 article in the Chicago Tribune (pay to view, of course) states that Schofield had been re-elected to the position of Wayne Twp road commissioner, so he was still with us at least at that point.

 

[Cubby]

An April 5th, 1967 article in the Chicago Tribune (pay to view, of course) states that Schofield had been re-elected to the position of Wayne Twp road commissioner, so he was still with us at least at that point.

The articles about his political career, IIRC, extend into the early 80's. I'd have to look for them again but I am sure they extended as Wayne Township HWY commisioner through the early 80's.

eta; here is one snippet from 1983


Illinois Appellate Court Reports - IN RE APPLICATION OF DU PAGE CTY …
[SIZE=-1]Pay-Per-View - Illinois Appellate Court Reports - Loislaw[SIZE=-1] - Sep 28, 1983[/SIZE]
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]The appeal concerns objections to taxes extended for Wayne Township "for town ... Highway Commissioner John Schofield explained to the electors that the ... [/SIZE]

 

[LisaWilliams]

Notes for JOHN E. SCHOFIELD:
The following item is from the Aurora Beacon News

Two DuPage Co Men were drowned monday when their fishing boat was swamped during a storm on Clearwater West lake 35 miles north of Atiikokan, Ontario, it was learned yesterday. Dead were John E. Schofield, 59, road commissioner of Wayne township, and his neighbor, Lee W. Stewart, 54, a heavy equipment salesman. A third fisherman, Fred Zarbock, 70, of 25W654 Foothill dr., Wheaton, clung to the boat until it was washed ashore.


More About JOHN E. SCHOFIELD:
Cause of Death: Drowning

This was posted on Family Tree.com and stated a death year of 1967.

 

[Cubby]

Notes for JOHN E. SCHOFIELD:
The following item is from the Aurora Beacon News

Two DuPage Co Men were drowned monday when their fishing boat was swamped during a storm on Clearwater West lake 35 miles north of Atiikokan, Ontario, it was learned yesterday. Dead were John E. Schofield, 59, road commissioner of Wayne township, and his neighbor, Lee W. Stewart, 54, a heavy equipment salesman. A third fisherman, Fred Zarbock, 70, of 25W654 Foothill dr., Wheaton, clung to the boat until it was washed ashore.


More About JOHN E. SCHOFIELD:
Cause of Death: Drowning

This was posted on Family Tree.com and stated a death year of 1967.

Beacon news... TY. All I can say is this probably explains why people in this are registered to vote long after they were gone?

Wow again, this would explain that snippet I posted earlier about a sibling of LS's taking about the abandoned farm in 69'.

 

[Cubby]

Good sleuthing Lisa!

I found a bit more:

ROSA LENERTZ and GEORGE KLEIN are:
i. ELEANORA MARGARET[SIZE=-1]9 K[/SIZE]LEIN[SIZE=-1]130http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/l/e/n/Stephen-J-Lenertz/GENE1-0023.html#ENDNOTE130, b. January 20, 1903, Wayne Township, Dupage Co., Illinois; d. January 01, 1917.[/SIZE] More About ELEANORA MARGARET KLEIN:
Cause of Death: Hit by a train.

ii. EDNA MARGARET KLEIN[SIZE=-1]130http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/l/e/n/Stephen-J-Lenertz/GENE1-0023.html#ENDNOTE130, b. July 09, 1904[SIZE=-1]131[/SIZE]; d. October 18, 1990[SIZE=-1]131[/SIZE]; m. J[/SIZE]OHN E. SCHOFIELD, April 23, 1932; b. 1908; d. 1967. More About EDNA MARGARET KLEIN:
Burial: October 22, 1990, St. Catherines Cemetery, Genoa, Illinois[SIZE=-1]131http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/l/e/n/Stephen-J-Lenertz/GENE1-0023.html#ENDNOTE131
[/SIZE]
Notes for JOHN E. SCHOFIELD:
The following item is from the Aurora Beacon News

Two DuPage Co Men were drowned monday when their fishing boat was swamped during a storm on Clearwater West lake 35 miles north of Atiikokan, Ontario, it was learned yesterday. Dead were John E. Schofield, 59, road commissioner of Wayne township, and his neighbor, Lee W. Stewart, 54, a heavy equipment salesman. A third fisherman, Fred Zarbock, 70, of 25W654 Foothill dr., Wheaton, clung to the boat until it was washed ashore.

More About JOHN E. SCHOFIELD:
Cause of Death: Drowning

 

[Cubby]

Is this the Klien family for which the NW/ Street just west of Fair Oaks was named after? They had seemingly ajacent farms.

and LS's wife and child who passed away at 2 in 1978 are buried in St. Catherines Cemetary.

 

[Cubby]

So then Edna Margaret Klein, from the above is LS's mom.

Wow, just wow......

 

[shadowangel]

At the time of Debbie's death, Loren had two brothers, John and Wayne. I suppose its possible that this John ran for the office previously held by the father...