IL IL - Debbie Fijan, 10, DuPage County, 11 Feb 1966 - #2

[Cubby]

Dittos and thank you Cubby. "ALL very strange" (i.e. Francis/Franklin, died May or June, no parents of LS shown in obit., "preceded in death by his brother in law Phil" - Phil W. (?) was added; as was "beloved companion, Colleen Jones" AFTER first obit. Maybe in the next few days, some "updated" information will be posted.

Respectfully, I think the family just wanted to keep things fairly private.... Especially due to the discussion here. There are so many nut jobs out there these days, you really have no idea how many strangers will harass families of victims here. Buckskin Jane Doe is a recent solved case. Her family never reported her missing and now that she's been id'd people are contacting her parents and bashing them for not reporting her missing sooner.

The more personal info LS's family releases, the better the chances some nut job is going to harass named family so I understand why info was released as it was.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Obit is not fabricated - it's true. I'm a relative of LS and have been following this site for some time now.

Read above again - "fabricated". It's a scare quote. Just google (or equal) scare quote, and you'll get a description. I apologize if I offended you.

 

[Kayo - 55]

06-05-2018
Dear Debbie,
After today, your soul and spirit can finally rest. Even though you have been gone for more than 52 years, I will always think about you, and will continue to pray for your brothers, sisters, and their families. I'm a bit sad, knowing that your Mom & Dad weren't able to see this day.

For all the followers of Debbie's site, please continue to add and post your comments. The recent passing of the original prime suspect should hopefully not deter anyone, including the DPCSO, from determining the guilt or innocence of the dead or alive suspect(s) who murdered Debbie.

The unsolved murder of Debbie Fijan

 

[Cubby]

For all the followers of Debbie's site, please continue to add and post your comments. The recent passing of the original prime suspect should hopefully not deter anyone, including the DPCSO, from determining the guilt or innocence of the dead or alive suspect(s) who murdered Debbie.

The unsolved murder of Debbie Fijan

No doubt, I do hope people continue to discuss Debbie's case. It's still unsolved whether the perpetrator is deceased or not. It still needs to be solved even if it can not be prosecuted. The truth of what happened to Debbie is the same today as it was in February of 1966. And it is the truth that we are seeking here.

 

[Kayo - 55]

For those of you that have been following this site, you most likely know where Debbie was found. I believe this farmland was still vacant/undeveloped as of 06/01/2018; though unconfirmed. It must be worth millions(?). Hmm...…………..

"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead"


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fair+Oaks+Rd+%26+W+Lies+Rd,+West+Chicago,+IL+60185/@41.9295986,-88.1746995,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEwr3ih_X-HGcDPqLxdXpwQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880f0073dbae0459:0x320fa435ec4da073!8m2!3d41.9295712!4d-88.1747064

 

[Kayo - 55]

Respectfully, I think the family just wanted to keep things fairly private.... Especially due to the discussion here. There are so many nut jobs out there these days, you really have no idea how many strangers will harass families of victims here. Buckskin Jane Doe is a recent solved case. Her family never reported her missing and now that she's been id'd people are contacting her parents and bashing them for not reporting her missing sooner.

The more personal info LS's family releases, the better the chances some nut job is going to harass named family so I understand why info was released as it was.

Personally, I think excluding certain names or information (i.e. "preceded in death" by parents eKs, JS, city/town where died, where born, illness if any before died, etc.) speaks volumes; although I can understand. I guess at this point in time, I/us "sleuthers" should feel fortunate that a "family relative" (a.k.a. Helpful 1) even decided to post LS's obit. on this site. You just never know, like you said above Cubby, "how many strangers will harass families". I guess that could be victims or suspects. Ah yes, the horror stories of "ambulance chasers", law enforcement, unwanted relatives, etc. that can sometimes show up at funerals.

 

[Kayo - 55]

I visited Debbie's gravesite a few years ago. Sadly, she didn't have a headstone, but I can certainly understand why at that time. Her parents, no longer living, were extremely distraught. I believe she's buried next to her maternal grandparents. Maybe now, given the "new arrival" of LS on 06/01/18, her siblings/family/relatives might consider something for her. If I recall, one of her brothers posted something on WS awhile back.

I knew that LS's youngest daughter drowned at a very young age, but I had no idea it was on her 2nd birthday. Very sad, especially since LS's father drowned while fishing in Canada in 1967. WOW!!

Joanna Schofield (1976-1978) - Find A Grave...

 

[Kayo - 55]

Obit is not fabricated - it's true. I'm a relative of LS and have been following this site for some time now.[/QUOTE
Just because LS, the original primary suspect in Debbie's death is gone, does not mean that Debbie should be forgotten. Please come forward if you/anyone knows something.

"Only courageous hearts can endure the bitterness of truth"

 

[Kayo - 55]

02/11/1966: Debbie found late p.m. in a ditch along Lies Road
02/14/1966: Debbie's funeral
02/16/1966: "We've Got Our Man" (Chicago Tribune, referencing LS)
02/17/1966: "State's Atty. William Hopf of DuPage County disclosed yesterday a muddy foot print that matches up with the boots worn by slain
Debbie Fijan, 10, had been found in the car of Loren Schofield, 27, her accused slayer" (Chicago Tribune, 02/17/1966, p.1, col.8).
02/25/1966: "Judge Fitzgerald removed for preliminary hearing, replaced by Judge Marvin E. Johnson" at the request of Loren Schofield's attorney
(Chapski) ................"a conflict of interest since Judge Fitzgerald signed search warrant to inspect property".
02/28/1966: "Loren Schofield released on bond by Judge William Bauer"
05/06/1975: Schofield "family farm" at Lies & Fair Oaks (90 acres) was sold to "the DPC Forest Preserve for approx. $650,000.00; of which approx.
$38K went to attorney's fees, $22K to escrow, and $590,400.00 to Edna KLEIN Schofield c/o Mr. Phil Wiesbrook" - brother in law to LS.

Thinking about Debbie today on 02/11/2018, and knowing that she DID NOT get the justice that she and her family deserved.

"The Clock is Ticking" : For what it's worth, LS will be 79 in 2018.

"The Clock is Ticking" : For what it's worth, LS will be 79 in 2018.

 

[Kayo - 55]

LFS: (d.o.b. 02/14/1939, d.o.d. 06/01/2018)

Somebody, somewhere knows something. Don't give up on Debbie. Many different ideas, hours of time with posts by WS members, and thoughts have been shared on this site.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Last seen (years ago), the property at Lies & Fair Oaks, see post #825 above, has not been sold since on/before, or after 02/11/1966. The G. Klein family (Klein Road) owned this land, along with the land to the east (Corpus Christi Catholic Church) back in the 1950's. Does anyone know if this property has ever been "on the market", FOR SALE? Article below is from 2006, and I don't know what effect, if any, this would have on the sale of this property.

Fact Sheet 1

 

[Kayo - 55]

From MJS User Trees Genealogy, LS's parent's:
"John E. Schofield born 07/30/1907, died 05/22/1967 in Atikon, Ontario, Canada". "Drowned in Lake Atikon, body not found".
"Edna M. Klein, daughter of George M. Klein & Rosa Lenertz, Edna baptized on 07/17/1904 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in
Wheaton, IL., married John E. Schofield on 04/23/1932 at St. Isadore Catholic Church in Cloverdale, IL., burial on
10/22/1990 at St. Catherine's Cemetery in Genoa, IL.".

 

[Cubby]

Anyone beside me curious about LS's COD? Interesting how the timing of his passing coincided so closely with DNA technology causing such a spike in cold case resolution.

Now that he can not be prosecuted, I wonder if anyone in his family has already, or will submit DNA to a genealogical database in search for the truth.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Anyone beside me curious about LS's COD? Interesting how the timing of his passing coincided so closely with DNA technology causing such a spike in cold case resolution.

Now that he can not be prosecuted, I wonder if anyone in his family has already, or will submit DNA to a genealogical database in search for the truth.

Yes, I'm with you on the above. Sadly, "Mums The Word" has been SOP for the entire family since 02/11/1966, and in LS's obit. Even LS was instructed by his father JS to "keep his mouth shut" during their first visit in jail; when LS, JS, and a brother was present. The fact that the majority, if not the entire family (i.e. mother EKS, brothers, sister, husband, wives, children, etc.) moved out of the area within a few years after Debbie's death speaks volumes. I don't think LS's children were even born at the time of Debbie's death, with the exception of MS, who Debbie watched when he was less than a year old. I think the only way DPCSD is going to get any DNA from living relatives will be surreptitiously, and I doubt that will happen; given the miniscule amount of work the DPCSD has provided to date on Debbie's case. Sad that people take things to their grave.

"THREE can keep a SECRET providing TWO OF THEM ARE DEAD"

 

[Cubby]

You did some of the ancestry research. I would love to know if perhaps a more distant relative may have already submitted DNA into one of the ancestral databases. Especially since we know of at least one family member who is interested in genealogy.

IDK that DNA would 'rule in' LS, but I think it could rule him out. As I mentioned previously, it's probably very likely that any dna from LS can be explained as touch dna through normal contact at school. Now if there was still unidentified dna when compared to LS that could possibly rule him out.

The truth, is the truth....regardless of what it is and I would really like to find out the truth in this case.

 

[Kayo - 55]

COD: "Guilt perhaps is the most painful companion of death"

 

[Kayo - 55]

To date, 07/10/18, still no mention of LS in any of the SC of Genoa RC Church bulletins between 04/29 - 07/08/18 (i.e. "pray for the sick", "may he/she rest in peace", LS serving as "religious education coordinator"). I'm now beginning to think that most of LS's obit. was fabricated, the "precious soul" that he was.

 

[Kayo - 55]

You did some of the ancestry research. I would love to know if perhaps a more distant relative may have already submitted DNA into one of the ancestral databases. Especially since we know of at least one family member who is interested in genealogy.

IDK that DNA would 'rule in' LS, but I think it could rule him out. As I mentioned previously, it's probably very likely that any dna from LS can be explained as touch dna through normal contact at school. Now if there was still unidentified dna when compared to LS that could possibly rule him out.

The truth, is the truth....regardless of what it is and I would really like to find out the truth in this case.

The main purpose with some of my research was to ascertain any the "historical" information on the George K. family and the great amount of land that they owned in Wayne Township since the 1850's. I believe this George K. (Klein Road) would have been LS's great-grandfather, Edna K.'s grandfather. The GK family ties and connections with the RCD of Joliet existed since the mid 1800's (GK member, 1st board of trustees, see below). As I've said all along there were MANY people that protected LS and the "family name" from being convicted, and were looking out for their own $$$interest (i.e. "cover up"). John Lies (Lies Road?) mentioned below.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois

 

[Cubby]

Dna descendents for GVK.
<removed link> Different Klein family

Is this the correct GK?

Still researching any possible dna connections that might benefit this case.

 

[Cubby]

Afaik, other than the burial plots, LS no longer had any connections to St. Catherine's. That would explain why no mention was made in any church bulletin.