25 Year Old Jessica Heeringa Missing Since 4/26/13 in Norton Shores, MI Presumed Deceased

[grace-land]

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/muskegon/new-search-at-home-with-connections-to-jeffrey-willis/312615760

New search at home with connections to Jeffrey Willis
8:16 PM. EDT September 01, 2016

NORTON SHORES, MICH. - Police spent the day looking for new evidence in the case of accused killer Jeffrey Willis.

Early Thursday morning detectives returned to the home of Willis's grandfather.  The home is on Bailey Street near the Getty Four Drive-in.   

Jeffrey Willis remains at the Muskegon County Jail. 

He last appeared in court in July.  Prosecutors asked a judge for permission to use evidence from the alleged attempted abduction of a 16-year-old girl at the murder trial for Rebekah Bletsch.

The judge has not ruled on the request.  And the court has not set a date for the murder trial.

Thursday's search of the home that once belonged to Willis' grandfather is proof the investigation into Willis is still active.

Norton Shores Police Chief John Gale released a statement saying "we continue on a daily basis working the Willis case for any possible connections to the Heeringa investigation." 

Muskegon County's prosecutor D.J. Hilson added that detectives used different forensic techniques that had not been used at the Bailey home when it was searched in May.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/09/jeffrey_willis_cousin_who_admi.html

Jeffrey Willis' cousin, who admitted lying, said he saw Jessica Heeringa restrained
on September 07, 2016 at 9:58 AM, updated September 07, 2016 at 1:03 PM

MUSKEGON, MI – Jeffrey Willis' cousin, who has pleaded guilty to lying to police, made some shocking claims regarding the Jessica Heeringa missing person case based on a court document made public Tuesday.

The extent of his claims, which he later recanted as part of a longer statement to police, turned up in a police detective's sworn affidavit as part of the investigation into Willis' cousin Kevin Lavern Bluhm. Willis is an accused murderer and kidnapper.

Willis has been named a person of interest by Norton Shores Police in the Heeringa case. Willis has also been charged with the murder of another woman, Rebekah Bletsch, and the abduction of a 16-year-old girl.
 
On Aug. 26, Bluhm pleaded guilty to both counts of lying to police officer during a violent crime investigation, a four-year felony. His sentencing is set for Sept. 20.

Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson said he had no comment to Blum's earlier statements about Heeringa in the affidavit

Bluhm has resigned as a sergeant with the Michigan Department of Corrections, said Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections. Corrections, which had suspended Bluhm, received the resignation letter June 22, 2016.

Heeringa was 25 years old at the time of her April 2013 disappearance from the Norton Shores gas station where she was working.

[grace-land]

http://woodtv.com/2016/09/20/prosecutor-to-give-update-on-jessica-heeringa-case/

Jeffrey Willis charged with murdering Jessica Heeringa
Published: September 20, 2016, 9:30 am  |  Updated: September 20, 2016, 11:19 pm

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — More than three years after Jessica Heeringa vanished from a Norton Shores gas station, Jeffrey Willis has been charged with abducting and killing her.

Shackled hand and foot, Willis walked into a Muskegon County courtroom around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday to be arraigned on charges of kidnapping and open murder in Heeringa’s case. He spoke only a few words to his attorney, who entered a not guilty plea to the new charges.

While listing the charges, Muskegon County Judge Raymond Kostrzewa said investigators believe Willis restrained Heeringa with the intent to commit sexual assault.

The judge denied Willis bond due to the seriousness of the crimes he’s charged with and the potential danger he could pose to the public.

Willis seemed to smirk at prosecutors as he entered the courtroom. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson’s response to that smirk: “Challenge accepted,” he told 24 Hour News 8.

>>WATCH: Willis arraigned in Heeringa case

Only a few minutes later, Willis’ cousin Kevin Bluhm walked into the same courtroom in chains. He’s charged with being an accessory after the fact in Heeringa’s kidnapping and murder.
 
Willis’ next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28; his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4. Hilson requested half of the day in the courtroom for the preliminary hearing, saying he would need several hours to present all of the evidence against Willis.

Bluhm’s probable cause hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12; his prelim is set for Oct. 18.

[texasmom]

http://www.wzzm13.com/mb/news/local/muskegon/details-in-heeringa-willis-case-emerge-in-new-court-transcripts/323031007

MUSKEGON
Jeffrey Willis' phone records, gun reveal possible link to Jessica Heeringa murder

Jon Mills , WZZM
1 day ago

MUSKEGON, MICH. - Jeffrey Willis, 46, faces charges of open murder and kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of 25-year-old Jessica Heeringa.

Now, details from the newly released court transcripts help shed some more light on this tragic case.

Police found accessory parts of a Walther P22 gun at the Exxon where Heeringa worked. A witness told police that a white male approximately 5' 10" tall was behind the Exxon, with minivan lights off and his tailgate open.

When police investigated, Heeringa's wallet had $400 and money in the till, leading them to conclude it was not a robbery.

When police interviewed the cousin of Jeffrey Willis, Kevin Bluhm, he said he was asked by Willis to come by his grandfather's vacant home on Bailey Street, because, "there would be women there."

Bluhm then told police there was a nude woman, face down in the basement. He also told a detective he helped Willis, "get rid of the body."
Bluhm told detectives that Heeringa's body was placed in a hole that was already dug along Sheridan Drive.

According to Bluhm, Willis had been following and watching Heeringa for a period of time before her disappearance. Cell phone records place Willis at his grandfather's home after the alleged abduction.

Willis's credit card shows 15 to 16 transactions at the Exxon station. A detective also told the judge Willis was at the store at 10:30 p.m. the night before Heeringa went missing.

The detective told the judge that Willis purchased a 2006 Dodge Caravan in the end of March 2013, one month prior to the alleged abduction.

Police received a tip which led them to interview Willis in May 2013. Willis claimed to have been at his home from 9:30 p.m. to 12:35 a.m. the night Heeringa went missing. The detective told the judge that cell phone records indicate Willis was not at home, but near his grandfather's vacant home during that time.

A key to the case has been a missing piece of the gun found at Exxon, the same unique accessory missing from the P22 discovered in Willis's van.
Police located the owner of the P22 found in Willis's van, who identified the gun and said the accessory found at the Exxon belonged on the gun.

The 16-page transcript from Monday in Muskegon District court ends with judge saying, "there is probable cause to issue warrant," on Bluhm and Willis.

[texasmom]

http://woodtv.com/2016/09/21/after-murder-charge-question-remains-where-is-jessica-heeringa/

After murder charge, question remains: Where is Jessica Heeringa?
Search continues for Jessica Heeringa's body more than 3 years after she vanished

Heather Walker and 24 Hour News 8 web staff
Published: September 21, 2016, 7:13 pm  Updated: September 21, 2016, 7:21 pm

MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A murder charge, but no body.

Jeffrey Willis has been charged with kidnapping and murdering Jessica Heeringa, who went missing from her workplace in Norton Shores in April 2013, but investigators haven’t found her remains. Authorities say the Norton Shores Police Department is dedicated to bringing her home.

“Both Lt. (Michael) Kasher and Chief (Jon) Gale have made that commitment to the Heeringa family that this doesn’t end the saga, so to speak,” Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson told 24 Hour News 8 Wednesday. “We’re going to continue to look and follow any leads that we get in order to bring her home.”

According to court documents, Willis’ cousin, Kevin Bluhm, told investigators that he helped Willis bury Heeringa off Sheridan Road north of E. Laketon Avenue in Muskegon Township. Investigators say they’re sure her body was there at one time.

The area in question, which is about a third of a mile from Willis’ home, is the site of old train tracks that make a path through the woods. Police first searched there in June on the same day they interviewed Bluhm.

“We were pretty excited of the fact that we might in fact make that discovery, only obviously not to make that discovery,” Hilson told 24 Hour News 8 Wednesday.

Since then, they’ve searched twice more.

“We spent a lot of time out there, used some forensic techniques in order to determine whether or not there was a dead body buried there and ultimately came up with nothing,” Hilson said.

“It’s our belief that she has been moved and we are in the process of trying to find where she’s at,” he continued. “Is she in Muskegon County? Absolutely could be. Is she outside of Muskegon County? Sure, that’s a possibility.”

When asked if Bluhm said anything about moving the body or if authorities think he was involved in doing so, Hilson said he couldn’t comment on Bluhm’s statement.

But he added, “I guess you can kind of put two and two together for yourself. I would find it very hard to move a body by myself. And whether it was Bluhm or Bluhm and somebody else, whatever the case is, certainly I think Mr. Willis had some help.”

But as to whether a third person could have been involved, Hilson said, “we have no evidence to suggest that.”

When asked if Bluhm was involved in anything before helping to move the body, Hilson said, “Even if he was, I couldn’t comment on that.”

“Certainly, we’ve charged him with … what we believe we have evidence to prove,” he continued.

But if Willis killed Heeringa, surely he would know where her body is. So does Hilson think he’ll ever tell?

“I don’t know,” Hilson said. “That’s for Mr. Willis to decide.”

 

Bluhm has been charged with being an accessory after the fact in Heeringa’s murder.

Anyone with any information about where Heeringa’s remains may be is asked to call NSPD at 231.733.2691 or Muskegon County Silent ******* at 231.722.7463.

[grace-land]

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/09/how_cops_say_jeffrey_willis_st.html

How cops say Jeffrey Willis' story for Jessica Heeringa mystery fell apart
By  Stephen Kloosterman | sklooste@mlive.com   
Follow on Twitter
on September 21, 2016 at 5:45 PM, updated September 21, 2016 at 8:11 PM

MUSKEGON, MI – Jeffery Thomas Willis was interviewed by police roughly a week after Jessica Heeringa went missing April 26, 2013.

Three and a half years later, investigators say the story doesn't hold up under closer scrutiny. This week, Willis was charged with Heeringa's kidnapping and murder. The details of the case were laid out by a Norton Shores Police detective Sept. 19, 2016 in Muskegon's 60th District Court.

Det. Michael Kasher testified that two law enforcement members interviewed Willis about May 5-6, 2013.

At that time, he was just a guy with a van.

"He was not a suspect at that time, he was just a person that a tip came across. And at that time frame we probably took in 1,500 tips," Kasher said, according to a court transcript. "He had a gray van, somebody called it in. They went out and talked to him."

Willis' story at that time was pretty low key.

"He made the statement, and our officers will testify to it, that he said from about 9:30 to 12:30 he was home with his wife on South Sheridan. At about 12:30 or 12:35 he left and went over to his grandfather's house, 3038 Bailey, and he was looking for wood for his dog kennel, and then decided to go to Taco Bell located on East Sternberg in Fruitport to get some food before it closed."

But, Kasher said, Willis' story wasn't in step with his cell phone records – he was in the area of 3038 Bailey at 11:23 p.m., 11:59 p.m. and 12:05 a.m., according to phone records.

"The same time he says he was home it shows that his phone was hitting in – right at the area of 3038 Bailey, which ... it's about seven minutes away from the Pointes Mall or the gas station going northbound on Grand Haven, right onto Getty, to Summit, Bailey," Kasher said. "His statements to our officers was that he was home at that time, and we know that to be false."

By 11:20 p.m., police were already responding a call of a "suspicious circumstance" at the gas station where Heeringa worked. What they found was an empty station, a blood spot and accessory gun parts that would later be tied to a gun found in Willis' van, according to police testimony.
 

[Sister]

slow but methodical.  I don't know how the family endures it.

 

[grace-land]

slow but methodical.  I don't know how the family endures it.

 

It seems that it was a good investigation.  The family worked so hard and never have up.  Hope they find Jessica. 

[grace-land]

http://woodtv.com/2016/10/03/judge-denies-request-to-step-down-from-heeringa-murder-case/

Judge denies request to step down from Heeringa murder case
Published: October 3, 2016, 1:02 pm  |  Updated: October 3, 2016, 6:36 pm

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — The lawyer defending the man charged with murdering Jessica Heeringa has lost his bid to get a new judge in the case.

Jeffrey Willis was in court Monday for the hearing. His defense lawyer asked for a different judge because he said Judge Raymond Kostrzewa worked in the prosecutor’s office before 2014, which created an “appearance of impropriety.”

However, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson said Kostrzewa was never involved in the Heeringa case, which the judge confirmed.

The defense lawyer admitted he had no personal knowledge to support the judge was involved in the Heeringa case while working in the prosecutor’s office.

Kostrzewa said he “respectfully declined” to grant the defense’s request to step down from the Heeringa case and rescheduled Willis’ preliminary hearing for Oct. 25. It’s anticipated that court proceeding could take all day.
 

[grace-land]

http://woodtv.com/2016/10/06/willis-attorneys-move-for-closed-prelim-exam/

Willis’ attorneys move for closed prelim exam
Published: October 6, 2016, 11:42 pm

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — Jeffrey Willis’ defense team wants his preliminary hearing in the murder case of Jessica Heeringa to be held behind closed doors.

Wednesday, the defense filed a a motion for a closed preliminary exam. Willis’ attorneys say the Muskegon County case has received too much local and national media attention and they want some of the court proceedings to be held without news cameras present.

The motion will be discussed on Oct. 19. The hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/crime/jeffrey-willis-defense-seeks-to-remove-judge-from-case/337571025

Jeffrey Willis defense seeks to remove judge from case
6:39 PM. EDT October 18, 2016

MUSKEGON, MICH. - A motion to determine whether the judge in the Jeffrey Willis case is qualified to oversee is likely to be determined in the coming weeks.

Willis' attorney earlier this month asked Judge Raymond Kostrzewa to step aside because he used to work in the Muskegon County prosecutor's office during the Jessica Heeringa murder investigation. A decision on this latest motion has not been set, according to a court official Tuesday, Oct. 18.

A judge from outside Muskegon County will be assigned to review the motion and make a decision, they said.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/10/which_judge_should_oversee_jes.html

Which judge should oversee Jessica Heeringa case? Hearing Nov. 3 could decide
on October 26, 2016 at 5:45 PM, updated October 26, 2016 at 5:47 PM

GRAND HAVEN, MI -- A hearing set for Nov. 3 could settle a dispute over what District Court judge could oversee the beginning of Jeffrey Thomas Willis' trial for the abduction and murder of Jessica Heeringa.
 
Court rules require the matter to be passed on for further review to the State Court Administrative Office. The administrative agency of the Michigan Supreme Court gave Ottawa County judge Bradley S. Knoll the job of reviewing the defense's motion for a new judge.

Knoll is set to hold a hearing on the matter 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 at the Muskegon County courthouse, said Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy M. Maat.

"Parties and court agree there is no need to supplement the record and a hearing will be held," Maat said.

[MuffyBee]

Thank you for all the updates, grace-land.   

[grace-land]

Thank you for all the updates, grace-land.   

MuffyBee! 

You're welcome!  Hopefully, the court hearings speed up and we get to the trial.   

[grace-land]

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/11/hold_-_willis_post.html

Judge OK'd to hear start of Jessica Heeringa case against Jeffrey Willis
on November 03, 2016 at 3:20 PM, updated November 03, 2016 at 4:09 PM

MUSKEGON, MI – A Muskegon County District Court judge who was once a prosecutor may oversee a high-profile kidnapping and murder case, a judge appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Jessica Heeringa is presumed dead by law enforcement after disappearing April 26, 2013 from a Norton Shores gas station where she worked. Jeffrey Willis, 46, of Muskegon Township, has been charged with her kidnapping and murder.
 
Willis is charged in five separate cases in addition to Heeringa's. He's been charged with open murder and possessing a firearm while committing a felony in the June 2014 shooting death of jogger Rebecca Bletsch. He faces a kidnapping charge, and two firearm charges in the spring 2016 abduction of a 16-year-old girl. Three other charges against Willis relate to manufacturing child pornography, downloading child pornography, and surveying unclothed persons without consent.

Willis' cousin, Kevin Bluhm, has been convicted of lying to police in the Heeringa and Bletsch investigations, and is also charged with being an accessory to Heeringa's murder after the fact.

[grace-land]

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/crime/jeffrey-willis-defense-seeks-to-bar-media-public-from-jessica-heeringa-case/354536506

Jeffrey Willis defense seeks to bar media, public from Jessica Heeringa case
5:45 PM. EST November 21, 2016

MUSKEGON, MICH. - The attorney for accused murderer Jeffrey Willis was in front of a Muskegon County judge this morning, arguing the press and public should not be allowed access to a preliminary hearing involving Willis and the Jessica Heeringa case.

Lawyers representing numerous different media outlets, including WZZM 13, were also at the hearing. They contend this is a process that normally is open to the public and should remain as such.

More than a month ago, Willis' attorney asked that the media not be allowed to cover a pre-trial related to the charges Willis faces relating to Heeringa.

Willis is charged with murder in that case.
 
After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Raymond Kostrzewa said his decision would be coming "quickly."

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/11/alleged_cousin-accomplices_exa.html

Alleged cousin-accomplice's exam adjourned in Jessica Heeringa murder case
on November 29, 2016 at 1:05 PM, updated November 29, 2016 at 1:23 PM

MUSKEGON, MI - Kevin LaVern Bluhm is charged with being an after-the-fact accomplice to the murder of Jessica Heeringa, but his preliminary exam in district court will wait until after that of Jeffery Thomas Willis.

Willis, 46, is accused of kidnapping and killing Heeringa, who disappeared from a Norton Shores gas station in April 2013. Willis and Bluhm, age 48, are first cousins. Both resided in Muskegon Township.

Bluhm's preliminary exam in Muskegon County's 60th District Court, had been scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 29 but adjourned at the agreement of both prosecution and defense lawyers, said Muskegon County's Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy G. Maat. He said the agreement had been made at a routine meeting between the lawyers, a probable cause hearing the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

"The reason for the adjournment was to let the preliminary examination in Jeffrey Willis go first," Maat said.

Willis' preliminary exam is scheduled for Dec. 6. At the preliminary exam, the prosecution must prove there is enough evidence and probable cause for the case to go to circuit court.

But Willis' preliminary exam has had a complicated start.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, Kostrzewa had yet to rule on a defense motion to close the courtroom during the preliminary exam. Willis defense attorney Brian Hosticka argued last week an open exam could allow ongoing media coverage of what's become a high-profile case, possibly tainting the pool of future jurors. Media lawyers argued the courtroom stay open in order to educate and inform the public.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/11/courtroom_to_stay_open_for_sta.html

Courtroom to stay open for start of Jessica Heeringa murder case
on November 30, 2016 at 7:26 PM, updated December 01, 2016 at 10:25 AM

MUSKEGON, MI - Muskegon District Court Judge Raymond Kostrzewa ruled Wednesday that a preliminary examination in the high-profile Jessica Heeringa case will stay open to the public.

Jeffrey Thomas Willis, 46, of Muskegon Township is accused of kidnapping and killing Heeringa, who disappeared from a Norton Shores gas station in April 2013.

Willis' preliminary exam is scheduled for Dec. 6. At the preliminary exam, the prosecution must prove there is enough evidence and probable cause for the case to go to circuit court.
 

[grace-land]

http://woodtv.com/2016/12/05/judge-to-allow-bletsch-murder-evidence-in-heeringa-hearing/

Judge to allow Bletsch murder evidence in Heeringa hearing
Published: December 5, 2016, 12:50 pm  |  Updated: December 5, 2016, 8:43 pm

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) —  The man accused of murdering Jessica Heeringa was back in court Monday, as his defense team argued against allowing evidence from the Rebekah Bletsch murder case they’re fighting to have thrown out.
 
After hearing about an hour of arguments Monday, Kostrzewa ruled he would allow some evidence in the Bletsch case, which he called extrinsic but relevant in the Heeringa case.

The judge said both cases had significant similarities that require the court to submit the evidence.

Willis is expected back in court for the Heeringa preliminary hearing Tuesday.
 

[grace-land]

http://fox17online.com/2016/12/06/accused-killer-of-jessica-heeringa-in-court-for-preliminary-hearing/

Accused killer of Jessica Heeringa in court; teen who escaped abduction testifies
Posted 9:31 AM, December 6, 2016, by Bob Brenzing, Updated at 08:25pm, December 6, 2016

MUSKEGON, Mich. - The preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing Jessica Heeringa began Tuesday.

Jeffrey Willis is accused of killing the gas station clerk who has not been seen since April 2013.  She disappeared from the Exxon station on Sternberg Road while working the night shift.

Willis was arrested this spring after allegedly abducting a teen girl.  That girl got away, but investigators found evidence in his home and vehicle that allegedly ties him to Heeringa's disappearance.  Willis has also been charged with the 2014 murder of Rebekah Bletsch.

The hearing that is underway is to determine if there is enough evidence to bring Willis to trial.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the girl who Willis allegedly tried to abduct in April 2016 took the stand. She jumped from Willis' van after he pointed a gun at her.  She testified that she was lost and Willis offered to give her a ride home.  The girl's escape eventually led police to Willis and the discovery of the evidence in the Rebekah Bletsch murder and the Jessica Heeringa disappearance.
 
The hearing will resume Friday at 9 a.m.