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

[Kayo - 55]

Listened to this on my drive home earlier today, thinking of Debbie. I am/was a CChurch fan. Whatever happened to her? Last heard, she was much happier not entertaining. Good for her. Both CC and JG have great voices - personal opinion.

 

[Kayo - 55]

The 1972 aerial that Mike V. provided shows an area at the top of the image, west side of FO, that most likely included a residence and other farm buildings. So NO, the Schofield family farm RESIDENCE would not have been visible from where Debbie's body was found; 200 feet east of FO on Lies.

CORRECTION to the above - TMI? According to the plat of the Schofield farm, the east property line along FO is about 2,675 feet, just under 1/2 mile. The home/structure shown on FO in the 1946 & 1972 aerials was about 1/2 way between Lies and where FO takes a curve (west side of FO). Given the images & survey information, the John & E. KLEIN S. house on their farm would have been visible from where Debbie was found; especially since there were very few tress. Capital EKS, since she most likely "wore the pants" in that family.

I hate to use the phrase that so many people use when someone is murdered in their community: "Something like this just doesn't happen in our area". To this day, this phrase continues to be very applicable, YET TRUE! If this terrible murder would have been committed by another perp, other than the original suspect, he/she wouldn't have dumped Debbie where they did. There were reports that Debbie could have lived up to 2 hrs. after she was dumped(?). So terrible. And YES, things like this just didn't happen in this area. I apologize for exceeding my "allowable" number of posts the past 24-36 hours. Debbie's birthday 11/16, late Nov. each year, and 02/11 makes me both sad & angry. DPCSD could, AND SHOULD be doing a better job. My "insignificant other" (kidding) tells me I should "seek professional counseling" - NOT! WS is my "therapy", so thank you for letting me vent. WS just saved me $250 - HA!

 

[Kayo - 55]

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.

How true! The fact that DPC Elections Commission recently denied my FOIA request for the election results from when John Schofield ran/was elected/re-elected in the 1950's & 60's "speaks volumes". Actually, they said my request wasn't specific enough. Hmm.....maybe they didn't have any records of a John Schofield. John Sr., John Jr. - HA! Maybe the Highway Commissioner job was never contested at that time. "Keep your mouth shut" per "Father John" to LS the first time he met LS in jail. I know, not related. Then again??? That close knit family (Klein/Schofield) so "well respected" in the community and church.

 

[Kayo - 55]

I can't remember if I posted this before?? If you read down, "German families who settled in the area", you'll see both G. Klein & John Lies listed - "The Lies", Lies road most likely?

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois

 

[Winward1]

Any idea why her grave is unmarked?

 

[Cubby]

Look at how commercials, films and videos are edited today. Ten seconds can be like an eternity in which to view something, or someone. Ordinary citizens have given chase in situations after viewing someone for a few seconds. If the witness was licensed to drive at night they could have seen a lot.

What's your source to say "colors can look very different based on light, or lack of light," when the "color" is white? (which is not a color.)

From the police reports and witness statements I've read it seems uncanny at how well ordinary people can see, recall and describe what they saw which, of course, has a put a lot of people in jail.

Personal experience in different lighting, silver cars can appear white. Just wondered if maybe the car appeared white and was another lighter color.

This was an area with no street lights so its unknown how much he saw. Even if he was coasting, I don't think it would have taken more than 5 or 6 seconds to get through the intersection. Both streets were one lane in each direction and he had to at least accelerate enough to move the car from a stop.

 

[Cubby]

Error above. Pic below with above description. Sorry.

Is it just me or does it look like the grassy area above Debbie's grave doesn't appear 55 years old. Why would the grassy area still appear to have a lined area around it?

 

[Winward1]

If you were talking about a red car possibly appearing brown or tan or something under low light I'd follow you. But you seem to be talking about a car lighter than white when nothing's lighter than white. Meanwhile, unlike today, silver was not a common automotive finish in the 50s through mid sixties. But even that would appear darker than white in the same light as nothing's lighter than white. So, if the witness said it was white, it was white.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Is it just me or does it look like the grassy area above Debbie's grave doesn't appear 55 years old. Why would the grassy area still appear to have a lined area around it?

I took another pic from the other side with her grandparents marker in the pic, but I was unable to "post it" since the image wouldn't fit with Debbie's pic. I know, "clear as mud". I'll try to reduce the pixels if I can(?), and post again. As far as the "lined area", the soil has most likely "settled/sank" over the years where her grave was dug?? Is that what you're referring to? Most of the plots and ground is very uneven, and the grass is not very well maintained.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Any idea why her grave is unmarked?

Debbie's nephew posted a comment a few years ago, not regarding her grave, but I don't know if he is following Debbie's site anymore. He/his Mom would be the one's to maybe answer your question. I'm sure very personal, and doubtful if they would respond. Debbie was the oldest, and she had 3 siblings. I don't know the exact year the Fijan family moved away from Illinois - guessing before 1970(?). They say that "pics are worth a thousand words". Some of those Chicago Trib. pictures of her Dad/Mom after Debbie had been found are just gut wrenching and so sad. Personally, I knew Debbie had "gone missing" that night (Fri., 02/11), but didn't learn until Sat. morning that her body had been found. To think that about the only form of communication for most families back then was "the clunky land-line" phone. I remember our family getting a call Friday night from one of the Fijan's family friends to ask if we had seen Debbie, or may have known who she was with when she left Benjamin.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Lets see if this works (pics). Debbie was buried here long before her maternal grandparents, just to the left of this pic. Flowers here were placed by others.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Genoa is part of the Diocese of Rockford.

I don't recall there being 10 acres if farmland there, but I haven't been down FO in a long time.

This might be duplication from a previous post, but:
1)Corpus Christi CC, directly east of the above 10 acres of farmland, is also 10 acres. The deed I obtained in 2018 through the DPC Recorder of Deeds shows the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Joseph L. Imesch, successor trustee on the deed.
2) Existing farmland (undeveloped 10 acres) and CCCC property combined totals = 20 acres. The farmland is still owned by a Mr. ............, whos name/place where lives will remain anonymous at this time. All 20 acres along Lies & Fair Oaks (east side of FO, north side of Lies) was owned up until about 1959 by the G. Klein family/Oak Park National Bank - Trustee; although the "Indenture" I was given is not a very good copy. Rather light, hard to read, and legal "mumbo-jumbo". A few of the dates & names are illegible.
3) CCCC was built in 1988, but yet the farmland where Debbie's' body was found has not been sold and/or developed. Hmm....??

Maybe the Diocese got "land in lieu of money" over the years from the "GK family". Shh.....quiet. Can't "cut off the hand that feeds you". Or helps you??

 

[Kayo - 55]

The neighbor who found Debbie is not deceased. There was someone, I forget his name, who was from Elmhurst and made some statements to police about the case which were later determined to be false. Police spent a lot of time following that lead before determining it was fabricated. That/Elmhurst guy is deceased.

The area Debbie was found was unincorporated and has since been are annexed to Carol Stream. I don't recall there being any kind of jurisdiction issue over which police agency would investigate.

Chicago Tribune- 12/20/1966: "Perjury Case Grows out of Girl's Slaying", "DPC Grand Jury returned a True Bill charging William E. Bellecomo, 28, formerly of Elmhurst, with perjury; accused of giving false information before Judge William Bauer of DPC Circuit Court which led to the issue of a search warrant for clews in the murder of Debbie Fijan on 02/11/1966. Bellecomo was held in the DPC jail in lieu of $5K bail".
Daily Herald - 12/15/1966: "Bellecomo Perjury Probe Continued by Grand Jury"

The above notes (verbatim) were from The Trib. archives, BEFORE you were required to "pay per view". As you had mentioned Cubby, "police spent a lot of time ..............it was fabricated". I don't know the "false statements" made, may have been mentioned in the complete Trib. article. Maybe another "rush to judgement" by the "connected" DPC Grand Jury and/or Judge William B. First, Judge Fitzgerald is removed/tossed for signing a search warrant, then this. Can anyone spell CAHOOTS?

 

[Cubby]

Bellecomo is deceased. I recall something about William Bellecomo claiming the murder weapon was a spoon? And something about hearing it, or learning of it from a neighbor of Debbie's.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Bellecomo is deceased. I recall something about William Bellecomo claiming the murder weapon was a spoon? And something about hearing it, or learning of it from a neighbor of Debbie's.

Yes, "That/Elmhurst guy is deceased" per your previous post. The cause of death and murder weapon, a 3" "pen knife", was learned shortly after 02/11/1966. This is the first I've heard about a spoon. WTF!! Bellecomo should never been given the time of day to begin with, especially since the perjury charges against him weren't made for over 10 months after Debbie's death. Talk about wasted time and money by DPC - "Penny Wise/Dollar Foolish". They (i.e "the Barney Fife's"of DPC), along with the Grand Jury, must have just wanted to show some activity (i.e. "save face") on Debbie's case.

 

[Kayo - 55]

From 11/19/2018, page 44, #875:
Thank you Cubby & PPP with the *** page/idea. Yes, I had thought about that, but haven't looked into it yet; given my below average 20th C. technology skills. I've been told it's quite easy. I was in contact with one of Debbie's 4 siblings this past Sept., asking for any contact information for other siblings. I made mention of her unmarked "plot", along with the idea of having a grass marker made for Debbie, but I never heard back. I would like to proceed with this; however, I'm still "on the fence" a little bit. I don't want to step on anyone's toes, given the sensitive nature of something like this. Thanks again for your input/suggestions.

11/30/2020:
After some "soul-searching" during my recent visit to Debbie's grave site, I have decided not to pursue the idea to have a grass marker made for Debbie at this time. 02/11/1966 had to have been a terrible time for Debbie's parents and family, and the decisions they had to make for her after her death were their decisions, even if under duress. I don't want to disrespect those decisions. It's one thing to have to bury a loved one as a result of age/illness, tragic accident, etc.; but losing someone at the hands of another person would just have to be unconscionable. If a family member/relative of Debbie's is following this site, and they decide to have a marker made, I would be glad to help and make a donation. Thank you to those of you (Cubby, Pink Princess P, others) that previously made suggestions about a Go Fund Me account and/or donations for a grass marker for Debbie.

 

[Winward1]

I've heard of people, non family members, buying markers for those who departed long ago. Fifty four years later if someone bought a marker it certainly wouldn't be an insensitive gesture.

 

[Kayo - 55]

I've heard of people, non family members, buying markers for those who departed long ago. Fifty four years later if someone bought a marker it certainly wouldn't be an insensitive gesture.

Thank you W-1. One of Debbie's nephews had been following Debbie's WS site. If I recall, he posted a comment in the last 2 years(?), but I didn't take the time to look for his post. <modsnip>

 

[Winward1]

Post web, many obits are written by family members which might explain a failure to follow through in a more traditional sense.

 

[Kayo - 55]

Spesia/Wiesbrook, Schofield/Klein: "All in the Family" - additional posts to follow, even if redundant. It helps refresh my memory as we approach 55 YEARS of inactivity by the DPCSO. Sadly, the current staff working for DPC/DPCSO wasn't even alive in Feb.- 1966. And sadly, very few people are reading Debbie's WS site.

Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois on February 16, 1966 · 2
www.newspapers.com › newspage

Schofield was formally charged with murder after he admitted that he could have done it He ... Get access to this page with a Free Trial ... Publication: Chicago Tribune i; Location: Chicago, Illinois; Issue Date: Wednesday, February 16, 1966; Page: 2 ... One caller said flatly, "Schofield is your man. ... Douglas Spesia of Joliet.