IL IL - Debbie Fijan, 10, murdered, DuPage Co, 11 Feb 1966 #3

[Cubby]

I don't understand the suspicion (at this point) of the suspect who sued for false arrest. Obviously he was highly investigated. And he had grounds for a suit against the county. Meanwhile, the tire tracks at both scenes believed connected to the case matched and obviously they could not connect them to him. The remarks regarding the DNA are strange given it seems no one has made any original case reports public.

What we know about the original suspect is mostly from msm. The grand jury refused to indict. We don't know if the tire evidence was even presented to the grand jury.

I was told by a detective working the case that the current investigators 'are aware of mistakes that were made in the original investigation'. I didn't get specifics.

I have also received some information from personal associates of the original suspect, off site, indicating some concerning behavior which led them to believe he might be guilty. These people were concerned for their safety and retribution from the original suspects family if they shared this information publicly here in the forum. All of their information has been forwarded or shared directly with the detectives handling Debbie's case.

When I asked, the DPCSO would not tell me the original suspect had been eliminated or ruled out as a poi/suspect.

We know of the two other possible poi's due to the white car. A school janitor and the neighbor who found Debbie also drove a white car.

Additionally, we know the original suspect failed several lie detector tests, as per previously posted msm. He was also evasive or lied about his route home from school the night Debbie was murdered. Between the failed lie detector tests, burnt clothing, and not being clear and honest about his route home, I don't understand how suspicion would be questionable.

The original suspects family farm was very near where Debbie was found. His parents still resided there and his then current home was not far from the Farm. His then current home is on Old Gary Ave or Rd just west and north of the current intersection of Gary and Army Trail in Bloomingdale.

 

[Winward1]

Suspicion can be a strange thing. I looked into a case that had some amazing theories, some proposed by area law enforcement but which I found just couldn't be true.

Also, if an otherwise ordinary person who works at a school suddenly finds himself a prime suspect in a child murder but he didn't do it and they're trying to pin it on him he might do some incriminating things as a result.

That said, something's telling me that whoever did this, unless they were on the very young side, was seriously violent prior to this and afterwards as well.

 

[Kayo - 55]

What we know about the original suspect is mostly from msm. The grand jury refused to indict. We don't know if the tire evidence was even presented to the grand jury.

I was told by a detective working the case that the current investigators 'are aware of mistakes that were made in the original investigation'. I didn't get specifics.

I have also received some information from personal associates of the original suspect, off site, indicating some concerning behavior which led them to believe he might be guilty. These people were concerned for their safety and retribution from the original suspects family if they shared this information publicly here in the forum. All of their information has been forwarded or shared directly with the detectives handling Debbie's case.

When I asked, the DPCSO would not tell me the original suspect had been eliminated or ruled out as a poi/suspect.

We know of the two other possible poi's due to the white car. A school janitor and the neighbor who found Debbie also drove a white car.

Additionally, we know the original suspect failed several lie detector tests, as per previously posted msm. He was also evasive or lied about his route home from school the night Debbie was murdered. Between the failed lie detector tests, burnt clothing, and not being clear and honest about his route home, I don't understand how suspicion would be questionable.

The original suspects family farm was very near where Debbie was found. His parents still resided there and his then current home was not far from the Farm. His then current home is on Old Gary Ave or Rd just west and north of the current intersection of Gary and Army Trail in Bloomingdale.

Thank you for posting Cubby. Besides the above, most of you might recall that Debbie babysat for LS & MAS; their first child/son, barely 10 mo. old if I remember correctly(?). LS joined the search looking for Debbie on 02/11/1966, and he attended her funeral. BAZAAR??, wanting to make himself look good??, playing on the emotions of EVERYONE?? MAS burns his clothing as mentioned by Cubby, and Debbie's body was found near the family farm; only 200' west of Fair Oaks, north side of Lies (per the DPCSO). Then, just about the entire family moves out of DPC; although, I don't know the year(s) they moved. "Innocent", but yet you "head for the hills"? Lest we forget about the "family name/mother EKS", and THE FACT that they had homesteaded in Wayne Township in the 1850's/60's. I don't understand either "how suspicion would be questionable". "Cover-Up"??

 

[Kayo - 55]

Oops/DUH! on the above entry. Debbie's body was found 200' east of Fair Oaks, within 10' north side of Lies. Had she been found 200' west of FO @ Lies per my mistake above, she would have been on the J. Schofield 90 acre "family farm". That's how close she was to where she lived on Wynn, Benjamin School, and the JS family farm. It has always been difficult for me to fathom that another perp/suspect would have decided to dump Debbie's body IN THAT LOCATION. Debbie would have put up a fight, and made some noise/screams, if she didn't know "this person in a white car" that picked her up at/near St. Charles & Fair Oaks.

 

[Winward1]

On the other hand, why would a killer dump a body in a place that might be associated with him?

 

[Cubby]

On the other hand, why would a killer dump a body in a place that might be associated with him?

LS was caught with at the school. He kept in his desk at the school, it's possible Debbie saw him pleasuring himself. In 1966 a teacher with a addiction, and I would consider this an addiction because it led to risky behavior, could react violently if that addiction were to be exposed. Especially as part of a highly regarded family within the community. People with addictions will go to extremes to keep their addiction hidden.

When Debbie was missing, the area where she was found was still considered rural with mostly open farm land. It would have been pitch black other than headlights of a car and possibly moon light if it was a clear night. Easy for someone to just push her out the door and move on without being seen. And who would know the area better in the dark than the property owner/residents?

Debbie wasn't too far from the school either. If this was a random stranger incident, why the need to dispose of her body so close to where she got into the car? A random person could have taken her anywhere, rather than harm her and drop her off in a spot which today would be a 3 or 4 minute drive from where she was picked up.

 

[Winward1]

That's an interesting theory. However, working off of "...it's possible..." and "...could..." doesn't tend to break new ground.

Several instructors at a middle school I attended engaged in behavior, in two cases with students, that makes LS look like a choir boy. It seems like half of the students knew it at the time. Oddly enough, it was two other instructors who ended up in trouble later for sexual misconduct (which happened outside of school and did not involve students.) Still, I never heard of any of these people being violent.

Why the need to dispose of her body so close to where she got in the car? Because once a victim is dead the mission is accomplished and being caught with a body full of stab wounds could be incriminating.

What can break new ground is finding people associated with cases, getting to know them, learning what they know and publishing it. Even in cases that generated a high level of publicity once upon a time, it can lead to suspects and information previously unknown to the public.

 

[Kayo - 55]

On the other hand, why would a killer dump a body in a place that might be associated with him?

"Reverse psychology"? The same would apply to why LS joined the search looking for Debbie, and attended Debbie's funeral.

 

[Cubby]

As for why dump a body so close.....

LS's drive home from the school should have been no more than 15 minutes. The later he arrived home the more suspect. As it was he described his drive home as circuitous. Why not tell police his exact route home if he wasn't involved? Unless, he knew who was involved and gave evasive answers to protect someone. His wife didn't have a second car at the time so she's out.

I believe neighbors wouldn't answer if John S' vehicle/s where home. LS could have taken Debbie in his dad's car, left his at the farm, dumped Debbie and then returned to his car and drove home.

Debbie's family was new to the area having recently moved from Wheaton to the home in West Chicago. The S family was well known and was involved with local government. Personally, I think LE,'s efforts at the time were half arsed because of the S family's connection.

I also question whether or not LE has evidence left which was preserved properly all these years later. No usable evidence, no chance at closing the case.

LS had some involvement with preparing Catholic preteens for the sacrament if Confirmation. One of the numerous preteens advised me LS mumbled something half under his breath while reflecting about lying and that being in his past. When this person learned about Debbie's case his/her immediate thought was back to LS and that odd mumbling way back.

A few other people also reached out to me several years back indicating they recalled LS having scratches on his hands shortly after Debbie's murder that he claimed were from taking leaves. Raking leaves on open farm land in February?

 

[Winward1]

I disagree on the evasive answers, not the least of which is because interpretation of that can be subjective. If he was innocent and knew they were trying to pin it on him, whether or not he had done something irrelevant that didn't look good there are all kinds of reasons someone could do that. Doesn't make them guilty in the least. Innocent people have spent huge numbers of years in prison, not to mention those who were executed.

It seems to me so little is known about some fairly fundamental things in this case. For instance, there was a witness who saw a suspect in a car. That's it? Seriously? Why was so little published about this? What size car? Any description of the driver? And why wasn't any more on this reported later? After all these years, why have there not been some reports regarding these things released when in so many other cases they have been made available?

 

[Cubby]

There are several msm reports online in the months following the murder. Not much after 1967 or so.

I think the case was purposely buried due to this involving a new family in an already tight knit well established neighborhood. There are plenty of cases that involve family members of politically connected families that are swept under the rug. Happens all the time.

I do think there is a possibility LS wasn't involved. There are some other questions which remain unanswered, including what time the neighbor (AV) who found Debbie arrived home from college for the weekend. Was it before or after Debbie was last seen?

Where was Mrs LS during the after school bb game?

Were any of the students, bb team members, members and parents of the opposing team questioned?

Was there anyone in the area suspected of violent behavior? I'm sure kids in the area back then drove earlier than 16. Many operated farm equipment, trucks and worked younger than 16.

What about violence in and around the immediate area if the school?

Lots of unanswered questions.

 

[Winward1]

A good start would be obtaining some original reports.

 

[Kayo - 55]

As for why dump a body so close.....

LS's drive home from the school should have been no more than 15 minutes. The later he arrived home the more suspect. As it was he described his drive home as circuitous. Why not tell police his exact route home if he wasn't involved? Unless, he knew who was involved and gave evasive answers to protect someone. His wife didn't have a second car at the time so she's out.

I believe neighbors wouldn't answer if John S' vehicle/s where home. LS could have taken Debbie in his dad's car, left his at the farm, dumped Debbie and then returned to his car and drove home.

Debbie's family was new to the area having recently moved from Wheaton to the home in West Chicago. The S family was well known and was involved with local government. Personally, I think LE,'s efforts at the time were half arsed because of the S family's connection.

I also question whether or not LE has evidence left which was preserved properly all these years later. No usable evidence, no chance at closing the case.

LS had some involvement with preparing Catholic preteens for the sacrament if Confirmation. One of the numerous preteens advised me LS mumbled something half under his breath while reflecting about lying and that being in his past. When this person learned about Debbie's case his/her immediate thought was back to LS and that odd mumbling way back.

A few other people also reached out to me several years back indicating they recalled LS having scratches on his hands shortly after Debbie's murder that he claimed were from taking leaves. Raking leaves on open farm land in February?

LS seemed to have answers/"excuses" for everything. 1)The feathers in the trunk of the car, supposedly from the "family farm" chickens. Debbie did a classroom show & tell with a stuffed/mounted duck(?) she had borrowed from her neighbor - see Chicago Trib. photos from where Debbie was found and her books, mounted duck, etc. were tossed in the ditch along Lies, 2) The boots that Debbie wore that were supposedly the same size as MAS - see Cubby's recent post, 3) LS's "circuitous" route home from Benjamin, 4) MAS burning LS's clothing, 5) "I could have done it" per LS, 6) NUMEROUS failed lie detector tests, etc. I realize most of this is repetitive; most likely a result of the recent posts that have brought out more of my anger with this unsolved case. I had no idea LS "had some involvement with preparing Catholic preteens..........". Even after leaving Pontifical College in Ohio when he was studying to become a Priest? This was before he attended Quincy University.

 

[Winward1]

I find it weird that so little has been disclosed about this case over the past couple of decades.

 

[Cubby]

I find it weird that so little has been disclosed about this case over the past couple of decades.

DuPage County. They bring close to the vest to a whole 'nother level. They aren't very user friendly when it comes to working with the public. It's one of those - this is how it's always been done and it's going to stay that way. Illinois is unlike any other jurisdiction I have worked with in the last 13 years I have been on WS.

I don't think anyone has tried to get original documents because DuPage has been known to not honor court ordered FOIA requests... They'll drag their feet as long as they can.

 

[Cubby]

Catholic teens make their confirmation in 8th grade. Its hard for me to explain how it works but here's a link.

Confirmation Formation | Queen of All Saints Catholic Church

Or look up "confirmation formation" to learn more.

LS was involved in working with 8th graders preparing for their confirmation before he left Illinois.

 

[Winward1]

There's probably truth to that regarding the county but it's the presses job to get information, and the county's job to provide some. At least at the time when we still had a viable press in this country. I worked with a police department in Illinois and, while they went to great lengths (and expense) in order to not release case files, they did provide a significant amount of information (most of it not pertaining to evidence, however.)

 

[Kayo - 55]

A good start would be obtaining some original reports.

Attempts have been made by quite a few "sleuther's"/participants in Debbie's site with DPC & the DPCSO for a number of years. Kudos to Cubby! As I mentioned in a recent post, I filed an FOIA regarding John S. (see below). While I can understand some of their response, I still feel that DPC is "sitting" on information and/or evidence regarding Debbie that they just don't care to release. Once again, maybe that skepticism in me, "mistakes made", "efforts at the time were half arsed" as mentioned by Cubby.

I am pleased to assist you with your Freedom of Information Act request (“FOIA Request”), received by the DuPage County Clerk Election Division (the “Election Division”) on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. This correspondence serves as the Election Division’s response to your FOIA Request. You have requested the following information:

• The dates and time periods that John Schofield served/was elected or “appointed” as Highway Commissioner during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Please include election results/vote margins, election dates, other contestants and names, if/when John Schofield was ever contested by other candidates, who appointed John Schofield if ever appointed.
• Individual that served as Wayne Township Highway Commissioner before John Schofield was elected or appointed.
• Individual that served as WT Highway Commissioner after John Schofield. Was this individual “appointed”?.

In response, please be advised that, "[a] request to inspect or copy must reasonably identify a public record..." Kenyon v. Garrels, 184 Ill. App. 3d 28, 32, 540 N.E.2d 11, 13 (1989) (quoting Krohn v. Department of Justice, 628 F.2d 195, 198 (D.C.Cir.1980)). In this regard, FOIA does not require public bodies to provide answers to general inquiries. Chicago Tribune Co. v. Dep't of Fin. & Prof'l Regulation, 2014 IL App (4th) 130427, ¶ 33, 8 N.E.3d 11, 19. Your information requests do not identify records and constitute general questions. Additionally, the Election Division has conducted a search for any potential records that might address your general questions and has not been able to locate any such records. Due to the time frame indicated in your inquiries you may wish to contact Wayne Township for additional assistance.

Requests were made with Wayne TS prior to this request with DPC Election Division. WT suggested I contact DPC ED. Apparently, I wasn't specific enough. REALLY!! As most of you might recall, JS and another individual drowned (2 of 3 men) during a fishing trip in Canada, less than 15 months(?) after Debbie was murdered. I believe that was an "all expense paid trip", paid for by a "heavy equipment" company that was part of the trip. Must have been a "fringe benefit" having the job as HC

 

[Cubby]

Winward1, have you looked at a map with the points of interest in this case? I'm terrible at maps, but if you Google map Fair Oaks and Lies, Wayne Township, you will see the proximity from the school, Ben Franklin Middle school on St. Charles. Debbie's home was on Wynn, just west of Fair Oaks and just south of Lies. What was the Schofield Farm is the huge area on the west of Fair Oaks and north of Lies which is now a forest preserve. The location of the Schofield home on the farm was west of Fair Oaks and all the way up north on Fair Oaks and Big Horn Trail. The location Debbie body was found was not within view of the home.

 

[Winward1]

I can emphasize with the FOIA requests.