GUILTY IL - Kristina Wesselman, 15, raped & murdered, Glen Ellyn, 21 July 1985

[Luckymanuh]

Queenie,
Welcome! What a wonderfully put together blog. I knew Kristy. She babysat my kids on occasion after school with a good friend of mine's child. I still think about her to this day and hope someday this horrible murder will be solved.

I found it and still do find it frustrating that DPCS would not accept help from the public. But then I ran up against that brick wall with another case in DPC.

Again, welcome.

 

[Quessie]

- I have an initial question regarding this: Is Kristy's family familiar with recent Chicago Metro area MSM about the lack of DNA from rape kits being processed in IL? If so, is there any thoughts on this in relation to Kristy's case?

the family is aware of all current information regarding the case. her brother is and has been in incorrect contact with those currently investigating and is being kept informed on all developments.

i want to make sure that it is clear that my purpose here is to provide information that may help bring new and renewed focus to Kristy's cold case and answer questions to that end. i will not engage in any discussions as to the alleged mishandling of the investigation or say anything that might give the impression that i have issue with how things are progressing.

the investigative team is aware of the blog Bill and i created, as is Sandy Wesselman, as she provided us with the original documents and pictures used. she is on board with anything that might continue to keep the search for Kristy's killer alive.

 

[Quessie]

Mr TT - if you haven't already be sure to read the MSM links Quessie provided.. I think, the guy you posted about having 'sued' DuPage did so based on some quirk on his rights being violated in the process of submitting dna, but I do believe LE eventually got a sample and that potential perp was ruled out. At least to my understanding. Perhaps Quessie can verify he was in fact ruled out.

yes, that potential suspect has been ruled out as he DID provide a DNA sample which was tested. he is no longer a suspect.

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

Mr TT - if you haven't already be sure to read the MSM links Quessie provided.. I think, the guy you posted about having 'sued' DuPage did so based on some quirk on his rights being violated in the process of submitting dna, but I do believe LE eventually got a sample and that potential perp was ruled out. At least to my understanding. Perhaps Quessie can verify he was in fact ruled out.

I did read them. Before i posted my replies #16 and 17
That is how i was able to post certain details from the articles.

Looking back, i don't see where i posted about the guy whom sued?
I read that also, and i was not interested in him about a POI.
He sued because he knew if he gave that sample, in the future if and when he committed another crime, where DNA was collected, he would be arrested again. He was not refusing, because he did it, he was refusing for his own self interests in the future. MOO.

I posted the links i did, because they are newer, and wanted to see what was going on this year if possible. I posted the video, because even though it didn't show much , it was from the area where the crime was committed.

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

yes, that potential suspect has been ruled out as he DID provide a DNA sample which was tested. he is no longer a suspect.

No match in the DNA system.

Can you tell us, if there was a match to other unsolved crimes using the DNA? If there is no match between two cases or more, then i am incline to believe this was not a serial killer. Serial killer would be proven if the DNA from this case, and the DNA from another case matched. Even though there is no one in the system to charge.

If the above is true, and no other case has been Matched using the DNA collected. Then that would mean as far as we know now, this was a one time killing, and the person responsible has not killed again, or done any other crime that would require a DNA sample for the data base.

We don't have any pictures, from the time to show the field with the weeds, and the path that had been traveled on for years.
But the articles stated she was found by a tree/trees, one or two trees laying on some leaves.
I am incline to believe for now, the killer knew the trees were there, and he had planned on dragging her there to the trees.

Can you tell me, if one was able to climb those trees, would it be possible to watch the path, and see whom is walking on it?
Seems it would be difficult to watch the path from the weeds themselves, since it was reported they were 6 feet hi in places.

I sense the path was narrow, and when one passed another, it was a tight fit.

add-on...

Was there anything found in her diary/journal she kept about anyone whom made her feel uncomfortable to be around. Or mentioned anything about anyone living in the area. Was there someone whom had bothered her.
Anyone whom may had a possessive attraction towards her.
Any gifts left for her at her door etc, without a name.
Any flowers that were delivered to her at home without a name attached?
​

 

[Quessie]

i will not be posting any speculation regarding Kristy's death.
i posted what i did for informative reasons.

i have no control or input as to the hows and whys things were or were not handled in a specific way, nor will i be discussing my theories on who might have done this or why. if that information is provided to be by and in any medium, i will do as i have been - picking up the phone and calling the lead detective and letting him know what i have heard or read.

the detectives and their team are well aware of this forum, and because of my very close ties with the family (as i am living with her older brother) the last thing i wish to do is step on any toes.

if there are questions that i feel free to release information, without breaking a vow in regards to my confidentiality i will most assuredly do that.

please respect that i am not just someone familiar with her case, her brother's and my families are enmeshed. to bring up what happened now would not be met well.

i am sorry that i can't give you information you seek, but unless i have something that has been 100% verified, i won't have a hand it it.

please forgive me if this is not usually how things are done here, but this is my current comfort level.

thanks...

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

i will not be posting any speculation regarding Kristy's death.

i posted what i did for informative reasons.

i have no control or input as to the hows and whys things were or were not handled in a specific way, nor will i be discussing my theories on who might have done this or why. if that information is provided to be by and in any medium, i will do as i have been - picking up the phone and calling the lead detective and letting him know what i have heard or read.

the detectives and their team are well aware of this forum, and because of my very close ties with the family (as i am living with her older brother) the last thing i wish to do is step on any toes.

if there are questions that i feel free to release information, without breaking a vow in regards to my confidentiality i will most assuredly do that.

please respect that i am not just someone familiar with her case, her brother's and my families are enmeshed. to bring up what happened now would not be met well.

i am sorry that i can't give you information you seek, but unless i have something that has been 100% verified, i won't have a hand it it.

please forgive me if this is not usually how things are done here, but this is my current comfort level.

thanks...

How may we help you?
Is there something you would like for us to concentrate on?
Tell us what you would like for us to do here.
I am confused

from your post #22
i want to make sure that it is clear that my purpose here is to provide information that may help bring new and renewed focus to Kristy's cold case and answer questions to that end.

Perhaps I am asking the wrong type of questions?
Any suggestions?
​

 

[Cubby]

Quessie,
I certainly understand and respect not wishing to divulge any information you have been given confidentially regarding Kristy's case. Especially with regards to information you may have been provided by LE (Law enforcement).

I do hope you are able to answer questions which might help any discussion, theory or new information we might be able to uncover to help in a particular direction. The last thing we want to do is come up with wild unfound speculation. Websleuths works very hard to keep the discussion relative and our goal is to uncover information which might not only keep the case alive but also to uncover information to bring to the table for LE.

With that, I am hoping you might be able to answer the following questions.

Did LE have the opportunity to interview any customers in the store outside of the cashier who rang up Kristy's purchase? I can't help but wonder if any customers noticed someone paying unusual attention to Kristy while she was shopping. I don't want to accuse, nor am I, I am just curious.... Did LE determine the cashier worked until a time it was not possible he was getting off work and possibly followed Kristy out of the store? I ask because often the last person to see someone alive is responsible for their death, although not always. I also found the timing a little unusual that he is quoted in the article as having used the same path to walk home from Jewel at 5:30 that same day and is quoted as having seen nothing unusual. (And placing him in the path that day, shortly after Kristy was there...... just something that should be asked...)

She purchased a candybar and soda. Where the candy bars near the check out aisles back when Kristy made this purchase? I wonder where in relation to the check out aisles the two items Kristy purchased were located. Would she have been in the store walking around to find these items giving another customer the opportunity (and time) to follow her out? Or was the Jewel set up in a way the two items she purchased where near the register and it would have been a quick in and out of the store to make her purchase?

If she left her home at appx 4 pm and the receipt found with the items she purchased was appx 4:41 pm. How long did it usually take to walk from her home to the jewel? Was that a 10-15 min walk or ? .

In one of the articles posted at your blog it is mentioned there was a family reunion or get together of some kind nearby where Kristy was found. Did Kristy have to walk past that house to get to the path she walked through the empty field? Did LE ever interview the home owners to determine if any of their guests left the party about the time Kristy was walking along the path? I can't help but wonder if someone from the party noticed Kristy and perhaps followed her?

Can you tell us if anyone was ever polygraphed and cleared? I am not asking for names, a yes LE poly'd several people who were cleared is sufficient.

Please feel free to answer as many or few questions here based on your comfort level.

Thank you,
Cubby

 

[Cubby]

Do we know if the Jewel had survellience video at the time of Kristy's murder?
I don't remember if survellience was being used in 1985.

tia

 

[Cubby]

If you have any information that may assist police with this case,
please contact the DuPage County Sheriff’s office 630-407-2400.

 

[Cubby]

Quessie,

Is it possible for yourself or someone who knows the case well to draw a map of the area from Kristy's home and along the path she would have taken to the jewel. Including the immediate surrounding area and type of fence surrounding the vacant lot. Maybe the number of houses she would have had to pass to get to the store?

Let me find a link to give you an idea of what kind of hand drawn map I am thinking of.

thanks

ETA: link to map for example... I'm thinking a map in the upper right corner of the following link might be helpful with the discussion.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11624535@N08/1140824856/in/set-72157601489072011/

 

[Cubby]

A few thoughts being a local (kind of local) and having driven past the intersection of 53 and Butterfield/56 hundreds of times.

I remember the corner but don't remember the restaurant or banquent hall and I'm not sure I recall the exact location of the Jewel on that corner.

I do remember the area just South on the same west side used to flood often and I recall several homes were bought and torn down by the county due to flooding.

I honestly don't recall being aware there was a subdivision behind those homes that were torn down due to flooding. I always assumed beyond those torn down homes was more wooded area. I had thought Morton Arboretum probably extended that far North or woods beyond the MA extended into that area. I don't remember homes being noticable from 53 behind the homes torn down. (though I may have never looked or been driving myself so I couldn't look...)

Interestingly, before I read the news articles Quessie was so kind to share I had presumed Kristy had to cross Butterfield 56 to reach Jewel and her home was on the west side of 53 but north rather than south of 56/Butterfield. I'm glad to know differently now.

Because of the above, and the forest preserve east of 53 and North of Butterfield I think the person responsible for Kristy's murder had to have known the area well enough to know the path existed and was used. I don't think the average person traveling through the area would have known the subdivision Kristy resided in existed.... At least I didn't until I read the media articles.

Food for thought.....

 

[Cubby]

Do we know if LE ever found evidence of the killer other than DNA found on Kristy? Did they find shoe prints of any kind? anything the killer might have left behind?

Also, since there are no known witnesses I'm not sure why the blogger was complaining about LE not releasing a sketch of a possible suspect if one exists. How would LE arrive at a sketch if there are no known witnesses?

I am curious about an MO LE might have.... I mean, not every killer is so brazen to murder someone in broad daylight where there were a good 3 more hours or so of daylight left... and within 75' or so of a party the perp likely heard. The rest of the info released to the public, doesn't leave much to work with, at least that I can immediately think of... rape and stabbing isn't necessarily something so unique.

According to media sources there was no evidence Kristy tried to defend herself from her attacker so I assume she was already unconscious at the beginning of the attack.

I'm also wondering about similiar unsolved crimes in which a POI might be known but not charged.....

lots of questions here and I hope we can find some reasonable answers to them.

 

[Cubby]

I'm also curious if there was ever problems with transients or homeless camps in the forest preserve area near where Kristy lived. Across the street and just east of where the Walmart now stands (which is were the path was) is a forest preserve.

I don't recall if the parking area's etc. were there in 1985. I've never visited that particular forest preserve myself. My memory is poor when it comes to when that particular forest preserve was made family friendly due to my lack of using it and not living in the immediate area.

Was it used often in 85' and were there known homeless camps or transients in the area? I know that DuPage doesn't have many homeless, but we do now... and of course teens or early 20's in 1985 wouldn't necessarily pay attention to those types of issues.

 

[Quessie]

give me some time to review what was asked. there are many questions that i simply don't have answers for, and there are others that anything i give as a response would be speculation. i have no intention of doing that - speculating as to who or why, or trying to make sense of how the investigation was done or how it could have been done differently.

i also want to have Kristy's brother read all of the posts prior to any information i share. i hope that you all can respect that.

what i can share is (and this information is contained in the media provided):

• LE tested and eliminated MANY suspects.
• she did not leave her house at 4:00 - the times you have are incorrect. and yes, approximately a 15 minute walk; her expected return should have been 1 hour after she left.
• surveillance - no
• the Jewel was where the Abbington/banquet hall is now
• the field is now a Wal-Mart
• she had been seen by a couple students after she had left the store.

i know that many of you have a great number of questions, but my involvement is going to be strictly dispelling any MISinformation, and providing notification if/when a killer is brought to justice.

i will not be discussing the case, the investigation, evidence or possible suspects.

i will not be providing tools for anyone to "investigate" this case beyond the links i have provided in the blog. that's not my job, nor is it something i want to be involved in. if her brother feels differently, he will be logging onto this account and posting as he sees fit.

people wanted information and pictures; i provided that.
i want people to remember, and not give up the search.
i want to keep the promise i made to Kristy's mother to continue exposure.

but... i was there - that day; i can't have that day be a part of my life every day. please understand that.

 

[Cubby]

thank you Quessie.

I certainly understand and respect your thoughts regarding your participation.
The questions you have been able to answer and the information you provided in the blog is helpful.

If Kristy's brother should decide to participate at WS, please have him join under his own account or user name. WS does not allow two persons to share the same account. He would have to register using his own account.

Thank you for the information you have been able to provide and any information you are comfortable with sharing or are able to share in the future.

Cubby

 

[Cubby]

I did find one media link, which is also contained in the scanned articles Quessie was able to provide in her blog.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-07-23/news/8502170794_1_subdivision-path-valley-residents

Of interest from the above article. (snippets follow).

Undersheriff Robert Soucek said. Kristina, known as ``Kristy`` to her friends and family, was last seen in the store about 4 p.m. Sunday.

A store checker, V.R, 21, who said he has known the girl for years, recalled seeing her leave. ``I said, `Take care.` She said, `Okay.` She was smiling. Nothing looked out of the ordinary,`` he said.

R, a Northern Illinois University student, said that he used to baby-sit the girl and that she went to the store frequently. ``As far as I was concerned, she was going back home,`` he said. ``It`s kind of an eerie feeling.``

V.R said he used the path behind the store to get home about 5:30 p.m. Sunday and did not see anything unusual.

Several other residents reported taking the popular shortcut through 3-to 4-foot weeds and a clutch of trees connecting the Valley, a tightly knit community, with the shopping center Sunday evening and Monday morning. All said they saw nothing unusual.


(full name from MSM changed to initials for privacy)

 

[Cubby]

I just thought of something. If Kristy was seen by students after she left the jewel it almost seems likely that the person who commited the crime was a local - having been familiar with the area and frequency of the path being used.

However, I had forgotten the gas station was so close too. In addition to the McDonalds. It is possible someone who had been a customer at McDonalds or more likely the gas station (due to the short nature of stopping for gas versus eating) could have seen Kristy and after pulling away from the gas station parked and followed her into the vacant lot.... It would certainly give someone easy access to quickly leave the area. and explain why she was seen after leaving the store. Someone watching would have waited until they saw Kristy alone to approach.

Which leads me to wonder. Could the gas station attendent (or another worker or customer in the area) have noticed a customer not immediately leave the parking lot and had parked close to the entrance of the vacant lot/path? Of course it would be difficult to remember so many years later, but perhaps that stood out in someones mind this many years later and they didn't think it might apply to Kristy's case- but the memory is still clear and it might. What someone thought did not look unusual at the time could very well help the case.....

Just thinking outloud of various theories and how someone might have information they didn't think would help the case then but might.....

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

I did find one media link, which is also contained in the scanned articles Quessie was able to provide in her blog.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-07-23/news/8502170794_1_subdivision-path-valley-residents

Of interest from the above article. (snippets follow).

Undersheriff Robert Soucek said. Kristina, known as ``Kristy`` to her friends and family, was last seen in the store about 4 p.m. Sunday.

A store checker, V.R, 21, who said he has known the girl for years, recalled seeing her leave. ``I said, `Take care.` She said, `Okay.` She was smiling. Nothing looked out of the ordinary,`` he said.

R, a Northern Illinois University student, said that he used to baby-sit the girl and that she went to the store frequently. ``As far as I was concerned, she was going back home,`` he said. ``It`s kind of an eerie feeling.``

V.R said he used the path behind the store to get home about 5:30 p.m. Sunday and did not see anything unusual.

Several other residents reported taking the popular shortcut through 3-to 4-foot weeds and a clutch of trees connecting the Valley, a tightly knit community, with the shopping center Sunday evening and Monday morning. All said they saw nothing unusual.


(full name from MSM changed to initials for privacy)

from your quote...
was last seen in the store about 4 p.m. Sunday

The time on the receipt had 441 pm i believe. It took her 40 minutes or so inside the store to buy a candy bar and soda?

He said, he seen her in the store around 4 pm.
She had to be chatting with someone, perhaps between the time she was seen, up to the time she bought the items, then left.
Or perhaps that was her nature, to spend lot of time browsing inside the store or what not.

What a dream it would be, if we had surveillance video from that store at the time!

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

someone followed her on her path back to her house and grabbed her from behind, after leaving the store or passed her as she was returning home after buying the candy-bar and soda. They grabbed her, and dragged her to the trees. They had to know the trees were there i would think, so that would make it a local.
Until LE documents tell us otherwise, i would say she was followed back on the path towards home, and grabbed from behind, taken to the spot she was found and murdered there. She may had been engaged with someone inside or outside the store, between 4pm and 441pm as shown by the time on the receipt. And the killer may had left on the path heading towards the jewel store afterwords.
But of course this is all speculation, and assumptions on my part.
Until we are able to see any official documents speculation is all we can do.

If it was not someone she knew, then i would ask LE, if they were here ri8ght now. If they checked to see if any new people moved in the area before hand, any moved out shortly thereafter, or any persons released from prison on parole that may have been released into the area.

I don't understand this case, how many possible suspects could there be.
Every one they was able to check. Something tells me, even though they have DNA, all they did was check it from time to time with the national data bases. I don't think they checked many locals at all over the years.
Can you tell us that, how many locals, ex locals have been tested over the years, to see if there was a match.

Quessie....This was not done by some serial killer, or someone from out of town passing through the neighborhood on that day!
Can you give a yes or no on that even. This was done by someone in your midst.
This is about as local as you can get at the time.

Until we receive some more facts on this case, i rather not speculate anymore!