March 28, 2024, 03:21:50 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: NEW CHILD BOARD CREATED IN THE POLITICAL SECTION FOR THE 2016 ELECTION
 
   Home   Help Login Register  
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: 25 Year Old Jessica Heeringa Missing Since 4/26/13 in Norton Shores, MI Presumed Deceased  (Read 164605 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #340 on: May 09, 2018, 07:34:20 PM »

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/blog-day-2-of-jessica-heeringa-murder-trial/69-550244336

BLOG: Day 2 of Jessica Heeringa murder trial
Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson is expected to call more than 30 witnesses in total.
Author:   Kayla Fortney 
Published:   8:27 AM EDT May 9, 2018 
Updated:   6:02 PM EDT May 9, 2018
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #341 on: May 10, 2018, 01:34:44 PM »

Live updates at the link

http://www.woodtv.com/news/jeffrey-willis-investigation/day-3-of-testimony-in-jessica-heeringa-trial/1170594008

WATCH LIVE: Willis trial for Heeringa murder turns to DNA
By: 24 Hour News 8 web staff
Updated: May 10, 2018 02:08 PM EDT

>>App users: Watch testimony streaming live on woodtv.com here.

The latest in the trial of Jeffrey Willis, who is charged with the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa:

2 p.m. – Hayhurst said pink panties tested positive for semen, which was then subjected to a DNA test.

Hayhurst says DNA collected from the ball on the ballgag matched Willis.

Hayhurst says a sex toy tested positive for DNA of two people, but the “major donor” wasn’t Willis, Rebekah Bletsch, Jessica Heeringa or MJN. The “minor contributor” was too small a sample to compare.

Hayhurst says DNA collected from the interior of a leather restraint matched Willis.

Hayhurst said DNA collected from the muzzle and interior area of the Walther P22 matched Willis.
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #342 on: May 11, 2018, 03:46:26 PM »

Live updates at the link

http://www.woodtv.com/news/jeffrey-willis-investigation/jeffrey-willis-jessica-heeringa-trial-testimony-day-4/1172342639

WATCH LIVE: Expert details Willis' murder-porn collection
By: 24 Hour News 8 web staff
Updated: May 11, 2018 04:17 PM EDT

>>App users: Watch testimony streaming live on woodtv.com here.

The latest in Jeffrey Willis’ trial for the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa:

4:15 p.m. – Corporal Christopher Hare, who accompanied Sgt. Baker on following up on the Jeffrey Willis tip, is testifying.

He says Willis met the officers on his front porch. Hare said Willis acknowledged Heeringa was working when he went to the gas station. He told Hare he knew her and was familiar with her, but they didn’t have a relationship.

Hare also recounts what Willis said he did the night Heeringa disappeared – played in a Magic: The Gathering tournament, went home, left for his grandfather’s house to get a board for a dog kennel, picked up Taco Bell then came home.

Hare says he was not shown or offered Willis’ cellphone during that encounter.

Hare says they noticed the interior of the minivan was “pristine… cleaned.”

Prosecutor D.J. Hilson plays the two messages Hare left for Willis’ then-wife. She previously testified in the Bletsch murder case that she never heard those messages.
 
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #343 on: May 15, 2018, 03:53:45 PM »

Live updates at the link

http://www.woodtv.com/news/jeffrey-willis-investigation/jeffrey-willis-jessica-heeringa-trial-testimony-day-5/1175634436

Day 5 of Willis trial testimony focuses on grandfather's home
By:  24 Hour News 8 web staff 
Updated: May 15, 2018 04:37 PM EDT

(WOOD) — The latest in the trial of Jeffrey Willis, who is charged with kidnapping and murdering Jessica Heeringa:

4 p.m. –The judge has called an end to testimony for the day, citing a sick juror. The trial is expected to resume at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.


>>App users: Watch Tuesday afternoon's testimony here.

3:30 p.m.– Kasher said Heeringa was a beautiful poet and her journal consisted of poems and feelings. Nothing in it pointed to a suspect.

Kasher said the journal focused on how to take care of her son, wishing for a better life, but calling him the best decision she’s ever made and the greatest thing that happened to her.

He said Heeringa talked about running away and having a better life in the journal, but there was no concrete plan. He says the next week she’d write “life is good, life is sweet.”

“I think it’s something we all go through in life,” said Kasher, adding it wasn’t a downward slide, but “up days and down days.”

Kasher says in the journal, Heeringa talked about making a better life for her son.

The judge orders a 10 minute break.
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #344 on: May 16, 2018, 09:51:23 AM »

http://www.woodtv.com/news/jeffrey-willis-investigation/jeffrey-willis-jessica-heeringa-trial-testimony-day-6/1181072698

WATCH LIVE: Jessica Heeringa murder trial nearing end
By:  24 Hour News 8 web staff 
Updated: May 16, 2018 10:11 AM EDT

>>App users: Watch testimony streaming live hereon woodtv.com.

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — Jeffrey Willis' murder trial will resume Wednesday with more testimony from the lead detective on the Jessica Heeringa case.

Willis is accused of kidnapping Heeringa, 25, from the Norton Shores gas station where she worked in April 2013 and killing her. Her body has not been found.

Norton Shores Police Department Lt. Mike Kasher is the prosecution's last witness. He was questioned by Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson Tuesday afternoon and will be cross-examined by Public Defender Fred Johnson Wednesday.

After the prosecution rests, the defense will have the opportunity to call witnesses. Johnson said he advised his client not to testify in his own defense. It's the same recommendation he made during Willis' last trial for the June 2014 murder of Rebekah Bletsch, but Willis chose to take the stand anyway.

Willis, who's already serving a life sentence for Bletsch's murder, previously told Target 8 that he didn't kill her or Heeringa.

Judge William Marietti expected testimony to wrap up Wednesday morning and closing arguments to be made in the afternoon, after which the case will go the jury.
 

Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #345 on: May 16, 2018, 06:25:45 PM »

Guilty!   

http://www.woodtv.com/news/jeffrey-willis-investigation/verdict-reached-in-jessica-heeringa-murder-trial/1181626362

Jeffrey Willis guilty of murdering Jessica Heeringa
By:  24 Hour News 8 web staff 
Updated: May 16, 2018 07:09 PM EDT

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — Five years after Jessica Heeringa vanished from a Norton Shores gas station, Jeffrey Willis has been convicted killing her.

After only about an hour and a half of deliberation Wednesday, a Muskegon County jury found Willis guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Wills, who was in good spirits throughout most of the trial, listened with no expression on his face as the verdict was read. His head dropped only briefly once the bailiff finished announcing it.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 12. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Willis is already serving a life sentence for the 2014 murder of Rebekah Blestch. He has denied murdering either woman.
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #346 on: June 18, 2018, 05:46:01 PM »

 

https://fox17online.com/2018/06/18/jeffrey-willis-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-murder-of-jessica-heeringa/

Jeffrey Willis sentenced to life in prison for murder of Jessica Heeringa
Posted 10:17 AM, June 18, 2018, by Bob Brenzing and Dana Chicklas, Updated at 04:43PM, June 18, 2018

MUSKEGON, Mich. -- Jeffrey Willis has been sentenced to life in prison for abducting and killing convenience store clerk Jessica Heeringa in 2013.

Judge William Marrietti delivered the sentence Monday morning.

In a 13-minute statement, Willis addressed the court Monday: he maintained his innocence and made claims that police botched the investigation and manipulated the evidence against him.  He maintained that he was trying to help the teen MJN in April 2016, when he was arrested after trying to abduct her.
 
No one from Heeringa's family addressed the court, while family members of Rebekah Bletsch sat in attendance. Many of Jessica's family maintain that because her body hasn't been found, her murder is still not conclusive.

Willis is already serving a life sentence for the 2014 murder of Bletsch.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2018, 05:49:00 PM by grace-land » Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #347 on: June 21, 2018, 02:28:53 PM »

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2018/06/additional_45_children_could_c.html

Remaining cases against Jeffrey Willis up in the air
Updated Jun 19; Posted Jun 19

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - At least some of the remaining charges against Jeffrey Willis could be dismissed by the prosecutor who said he doesn't want to give the twice-convicted murderer another "platform" to disparage investigators, jurors, attorneys and others.

Willis, sentenced Monday for the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa, still faces four charges related to child sexually abusive activity, surveilling unclothed minors and kidnapping a teenager.
 
Willis has already been sentenced to two terms of life in prison without the chance of parole for the Heeringa and Bletsch murders, so the remaining cases would not put him in prison for any longer.

Also remaining is a peeping-Tom type of case that alleges Willis used a video camera to record images of girls who lived near him.

And there is the teen abduction case from 2016, the victim of which was able to escape and then identified Willis as her alleged kidnapper. That led to Willis' arrest on the murder charges.

Hilson said he would consult with the kidnapping victim and her family before making a decision about pursuing the case.

"She is the one who did break the thing wide open," Hilson said.

He said he has no time frame for deciding on further prosecution of Willis, noting that the defendant has waived his right to a speedy trial in all cases.
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #348 on: August 14, 2018, 07:39:44 PM »

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2018/08/all_remaining_cases_against_mu.html

All remaining cases against murderer Jeffrey Willis dismissed
Updated Aug 7; Posted Aug 7

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - All remaining criminal cases against twice-convicted murderer Jeffrey Willis, including the kidnapping of a teenager, have been dismissed "in the interest of justice."

Willis has already been convicted of two murders and is in prison for the rest of his life, noted Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson in his motions to dismiss four remaining cases. His motions were granted by Muskegon County Circuit Judge William Marietti on Tuesday, Aug. 7.

Willis was convicted in November 2017 of first-degree murder in the 2014 shooting death of jogger Rebekah Bletsch, and in May for the 2013 sexually-motivated kidnapping and murder of gas station attendant Jessica Heeringa.

For both crimes, Marietti sentenced Willis to mandatory life in prison without parole.

Other cases that were dismissed involve the manufacturing and downloading of child pornography and surveilling unclothed persons.

"Now we can kick him in the hole and forget about him," Hilson said.
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #349 on: February 04, 2019, 08:36:35 PM »

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2019/01/with-jessica-heeringas-body-missing-kevin-bluhm-must-still-wear-tether.html

With Jessica Heeringa’s body missing, Kevin Bluhm must still wear tether
Posted January 30, 2019 at 1:39 PM

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – Kevin Bluhm, the man who said he helped Jeffrey Willis move murder victim Jessica Heeringa’s body, will continue to have his movements electronically monitored for at least another year.

Bluhm pleaded no contest in late 2017 to being an accessory after the fact in the murder of Heeringa, who disappeared in April 2013 from her night job at a Norton Shores gas station. He also pleaded guilty to lying to investigators.

Willis, who is Bluhm’s cousin, was convicted last year of murdering Heeringa. He also was found guilty of murdering jogger Rebekah Bletsch.

Bluhm will continue to wear a GPS tether for at least another year following a ruling late last week by Muskegon County Circuit Judge William C. Marrietti.

In asking that Bluhm remain on a tether, the prosecutor’s office noted that Heeringa’s body has not been recovered.

“At the time of sentencing, it was, and remains, the position of the People that Defendant possesses information regarding the actual whereabouts of Jessica Heeringa’s body,” Prosecutor DJ Hilson’s office wrote in a memo to Marietti.
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #350 on: December 03, 2019, 07:59:07 PM »

https://www.woodtv.com/news/jeffrey-willis-investigation/convicted-killer-jeffrey-willis-asks-for-new-trial-in-jessica-heeringa-case/

Convicted killer asks for new trial in Heeringa case
by: WOODTV.com staff
Posted: Dec 3, 2019 / 12:24 PM EST / Updated: Dec 3, 2019 / 05:53 PM EST
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Jeffrey Willis is asking an appeals court to grant him a new trial in the murder of Jessica Heeringa.

Willis is currently serving two life sentences in prison: One for killing Heeringa in 2013 after kidnapping her from the Norton Shores gas station where she worked and the other for killing Rebekah Bletsch while she jogged near her Dalton Township home in 2014. He has maintained he is innocent.

Willis was not in court Tuesday when his court-appointed attorney Anna Rapa argued that character evidence presented to the jury during the Heeringa trial was not appropriate and that information about Willis’ personal life, videos on his computer and Bletsch’s murder were not relevant.
 
The state Court of Appeals heard the arguments Tuesday and will issue a written opinion in the coming days.
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23616



« Reply #351 on: December 28, 2019, 08:47:45 PM »

 
https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2019/12/court-upholds-conviction-in-jessica-heeringa-kidnapping-and-murder.html

Court upholds conviction in Jessica Heeringa kidnapping and murder
Updated Dec 27, 5:16 PM;Posted Dec 27, 5:12 PM

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI -- The conviction of Jeffrey Willis for the high-profile kidnapping and murder of gas station clerk Jessica Heeringa in 2013 will stand, the state Court of Appeals ruled.

Willis, 49, was convicted in May 2018 after police linked him to Heeringa’s disappearance following an incident in 2016 in which a teen was nearly abducted by an armed man in a mini-van.
 
Logged
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Use of this web site in any manner signifies unconditional acceptance, without exception, of our terms of use.
Powered by SMF 1.1.13 | SMF © 2006-2011, Simple Machines LLC
 
Page created in 2.299 seconds with 22 queries.