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

[Cubby]

At least two of the articles I read state the opinion that Debbie was alive when she was dumped/dropped off. Is it possible that she was dumped/dropped off elsewhere and crawled to this location? I would think that this information would be released, but then again it might be one of those details that law enforcement hold back.

It could be, but I think if the ground was wet and icy, there would be some evidence on Debbies clothing whether it was released or not, if she had moved to the location she was found herself. Especially based on the weather conditions you posted for that day and the days leading up to the murder.

If Debbie was alive for a few hours where she was dumped, it also makes me wonder if the 'pen knife' LE thought couldn't be the murder weapon, perhaps could have been. We don't know how much blood was on the scene where she was found. But maybe that weapon wasn't enough to kill her immediately, but was enough to leave her with wounds that left untreated could have caused her death a few hours later.

 

[karefree]

According to Newspaper: Cook County Herald
Publication: 8 Sep 1966 - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Circuit Judge William J Bauer denied motion to allow civil suit brought by Schofield against Dupage County to be tried outside the county.

Schofield initiated the case against Sheriff Stanley Lynch, Sgt Milton Rowe and the county.

Schofield lives on Gary Ave in Cloverdale.

Newspaper: The Daily Herald
Publication: 1 Mar 1967 - Chicago, Illinois

The county was dismissed Thursday as a party defendant in a $2 million civil suit. The judge denied a motion to dismiss former sheriff Stanley Rowe and Sgt Milton Lynch.

I did this search for the dates of 1965-1975 and see no further information about the case.

I hope this helps. I am afraid that more trained eyes may have found more useful information though.

 

[karefree]

Newspaper: Herald
Publication: 12 Mar 1967 - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Attorneys argued that the same circumstances that allowed the dismissal of the county as a defendant would apply to the other 2 defendants.

Judge Bauer agreed with them that Illinois statutes provide that action must be brought against any public entity or any of it's employees within 6 months of the date of the alleged injury or cause of action.

A search for Stanley Lynch provided this article.

 

[Cubby]

According to Newspaper: Cook County Herald
Publication: 8 Sep 1966 - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Circuit Judge William J Bauer denied motion to allow civil suit brought by Schofield against Dupage County to be tried outside the county.

Schofield initiated the case against Sheriff Stanley Lynch, Sgt Milton Rowe and the county.

Schofield lives on Gary Ave in Cloverdale.

Newspaper: The Daily Herald
Publication: 1 Mar 1967 - Chicago, Illinois

The county was dismissed Thursday as a party defendant in a $2 million civil suit. The judge denied a motion to dismiss former sheriff Stanley Rowe and Sgt Milton Lynch.

I did this search for the dates of 1965-1975 and see no further information about the case.

I hope this helps. I am afraid that more trained eyes may have found more useful information though.

This is very very good!

This tells us the county was dismissed as a defendent to the civil suit. and if the civil suit wasn't eventually dismissed it was against two parties involved in the investigation.

That Schofield, imo was 'going for broke' when he requested the change of venue for a civil suit.

and that he lived on Gary. I know the streets don't mean much to you guys, but being local it is VERY important to me. It is still right at the intersection of Army Trail and Gary, but where... that intersection is all strip malls now, and a catholic church. FWIW, "Cloverdale" is either Bloomingdale or Carol Stream. I think Gary is the divider between the two towns. There is no actual cloverdale.

 

[Abbey5]

I found an article from the Chicago Tribune dated April 4, 1966. Dr. Samuel K. Lewis, DuPage County Coroner, said that is was "unlikely with the facts we have" that Loren F. Schofield had anything to do with the body of an infant boy "except to have been its finder". I really have a hard time believing that they both just stumbled upon this baby (and so close to their farm). And then instead of going to the police they go to their lawyer?

Another article from the Daily Herald dated March 3, 1966. The header of the article was "Farm put up as Schofield's Bond". Loren's father put up his 90 plus acres of land as bond. The judge actually stated that he preferred real estate for bond. So, instead of putting up $5,000.00 for bond his father puts up all that land? Did the judge think Loren was a flight risk or something?

This case caught my attention because it is fairly close to me and I cannot believe that it has not been solved by now. I'm new here so please bare with me while I get my feet wet.

 

[rpipergirl]

First off, welcome to Websleuths,Abbey5. Thank you for the articles you found. I saw one that said that coroner said he did not believe Schofield killed Debbie in the articles that Karefree sent. This coroner is becoming interesting.

 

[Cubby]

Hi Abbey5 welcome to WS.
I have mixed feelings on the baby being found and how it relates to this case. Maybe it is just coincidence, and maybe it LS was advised by his father - who was an elected official - to go to his attorney and not the police. While there are a few unidentified infants on doenetwork, this one from April of 66 I don't believe is listed at doenetwork as still being unidentified.

Thank you for the article. If you recall, LS's father was the highway commissioner for Wayne Township. I don't know if that position had any influence, but suspect it might have.

I'm hoping to get to the library Weds or Thursday.

 

[Cubby]

First off, welcome to Websleuths,Abbey5. Thank you for the articles you found. I saw one that said that coroner said he did not believe Schofield killed Debbie in the articles that Karefree sent. This coroner is becoming interesting.

I don't recall the coroner saying Schofield did not kill Debbie. I only recall the article saying the coroner did not believe the pen knife found by LE or turned over to LE by LS could not have been the murder weapon.

I wish we could find out some info from the two detectives assigned to the cold case, if it would not hamper the investigation.

 

[Abbey5]

Thanks for the welcome rpipergirl and Cubby.

Cubby, I do think his fathers position had influence on the way this case was handled

 

[Abbey5]

I ran across a few more interesting articles. This first one is from the Anderson Herald (Indiana) Feb. 20, 1966. The headline said "Woman may have had Slaying Role".

Stab wounds on the outer edges of the girl's eyes raised the speculation that a woman may have been involved. Samuel Lewis, DuPage County Coroner and his deputy James Clark said eye wounds were part of a pattern in murders by women. Clark said reported stabbings were also part of an accepted pattern in murders by women. Persons who commit such murders do not recoginize death as such and continue to strike after a person is dead.

 

[Abbey5]

The Daily Herald (Chicago) May 26, 1966

Mother of murdered girl denies threat.

Mrs. Jack Fijan denied remarks were threats. "You just say these things, you know. That doesn't mean your going to do something".

After learning of the suit filed by Schofield against Sheriff Lynch and Det. Rowe. Mrs. Fijan said "I got very upset after holding back for so long".

Mrs. Fijan told Mrs. Schofield, "Just keep him away from us, for if Jack or I see him on the road, he won't live to spend two cents".

 

[Abbey5]

In an article I read from the Daily Herald from Dec. 22, 1966. William Bellecomo from Elhurst was indicated on charges of perjury by DuPage grand jury. He had offered information months earlier and then made a statement in front of Circuit Judge William Bauer. He said that a neighbor of Jack Fijan's had shown him a spoon that had been used to kill Debbie and that he could tell them were it was located.

 

[Cubby]

In an article I read from the Daily Herald from Dec. 22, 1966. William Bellecomo from Elhurst was indicated on charges of perjury by DuPage grand jury. He had offered information months earlier and then made a statement in front of Circuit Judge William Bauer. He said that a neighbor of Jack Fijan's had shown him a spoon that had been used to kill Debbie and that he could tell them were it was located.

It seems unlikely a spoon could be a murder weapon. I wonder why LE thought his story semi credible to begin with, especially if it didn't match the coroners report. I couldn't find anything on the article about Bellecomo, or the article regarding the coroners speculation on a possible woman perp in Debbies case. Did you still have a link? ( you can copy the link by just copying the link from the address bar). Also, not sure if the article you cliped from had a typo, but for the non locals following the case, the city is actually Elmhurst, not Elhurst.

 

[Cubby]

The Daily Herald (Chicago) May 26, 1966

Mother of murdered girl denies threat.

Mrs. Jack Fijan denied remarks were threats. "You just say these things, you know. That doesn't mean your going to do something".

After learning of the suit filed by Schofield against Sheriff Lynch and Det. Rowe. Mrs. Fijan said "I got very upset after holding back for so long".

Mrs. Fijan told Mrs. Schofield, "Just keep him away from us, for if Jack or I see him on the road, he won't live to spend two cents".

I can understand her frustration. OT- but years ago I met the parents of two children who were murdered in the 1980's in Elmhurst, IL. The perp got life in prison, but her father told me it was all he could do to not blow up at the in the court room. I imagine it much harder for a parent who doesn't see justice, and then has to live with the alleged perp suing two of the investigators.

I don't know if Debbies parents are still alive, but I know she has at least one brother who I believe to be alive. I hope whomever is left in her family is able to see justice in this case. It would be a shame if they didn't.

 

[Cubby]

I ran across a few more interesting articles. This first one is from the Anderson Herald (Indiana) Feb. 20, 1966. The headline said "Woman may have had Slaying Role".

Stab wounds on the outer edges of the girl's eyes raised the speculation that a woman may have been involved. Samuel Lewis, DuPage County Coroner and his deputy James Clark said eye wounds were part of a pattern in murders by women. Clark said reported stabbings were also part of an accepted pattern in murders by women. Persons who commit such murders do not recoginize death as such and continue to strike after a person is dead.

I couldn't find this one via google archive search. Can you add a link? even if it is a pay to view?

 

[Cubby]

FWIW, I am trying to find anyone who has done business in the area this crime happened to see what info or direction they might be able to provide. Unfortunately, one former mayor is now deceased. I don't think any of this persons family members would be of any assistance this many years later. I did find another who has been doing business in the area for approximately 40 years so will see if that might open up any 'leads' to any speculation or rumors from back then that may not have been in the media. If nothing else, maybe this person can also direct me to anyone else who has been doing business in that area for about the same time or longer........

 

[Abbey5]

It seems unlikely a spoon could be a murder weapon. I wonder why LE thought his story semi credible to begin with, especially if it didn't match the coroners report. I couldn't find anything on the article about Bellecomo, or the article regarding the coroners speculation on a possible woman perp in Debbies case. Did you still have a link? ( you can copy the link by just copying the link from the address bar). Also, not sure if the article you cliped from had a typo, but for the non locals following the case, the city is actually Elmhurst, not Elhurst.

I don't understand why they thought his story was credible either. Unless, this spoon had been filed down like a shank? Or maybe, they were tired of him offering them leads and wanted to throw his butt in jail for wasting their time? I read all of these articles off of the Ancestry website. I do not know of any other way of letting you view the article other than emailing you from their site. Excuse my ignorance if there is another way of doing it.

 

[Cubby]

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...4&dq=samuel+lewis+dupage+county+coroner&hl=en

a little more information. (from a non pay to view link) the above states that Debbies mother called for her before the game ended, and when she later returned to pick her up Debbie was gone.

 

[Cubby]

No, Ancestry only allows a non member to view 5 articles. We tried that already, but thank you Abbey5. It is likely that man from Elmhurst was trying to get out of some possible trouble himself at the time and thought LE might buy a story from him. Or maybe he was just someone looking for attention?

I think there is a site you can save the ancestry articles to and then post them here. I need to ask another WS member how to do that.

 

[Abbey5]

I can understand her frustration. O/T- but years ago I met the parents of two children who were murdered in the 1980's in Elmhurst, IL. The perp got life in prison, but her father told me it was all he could do to not blow up at the in the court room. I imagine it much harder for a parent who doesn't see justice, and then has to live with the alleged perp suing two of the investigators.

I don't know if Debbies parents are still alive, but I know she has at least one brother who I believe to be alive. I hope whomever is left in her family is able to see justice in this case. It would be a shame if they didn't.

I understand her frustration also. I cannot imagine what this family went through. I only hope they didnt' have to run across the Schofields on any type of basis. I thought it was rather odd that this story was even out there. Out of the many articles that I read they only stated the basic facts and then this one. Were they trying to pull some of the heat off of Schofield? Between this and Bellecomo trying to give them info for months and put the focus on the neighbor or the Fijan's or the Fijan's themselves.

I hope this family gets justice in this case too.