VESPER, Wis. (WSAW) – For 29 years, the demise of somewhat woman in central Wisconsin has gone unsolved. It’s an advanced case stuffed with complicated testimony, a skeptical household, and a sheriff’s workplace beneath deep scrutiny, however on the core, it’s in regards to the demise of Deidre Week and the search to search out her killer.
On March 24, 1995, Deidre Week was 11 years previous when she rode her bike to a Vesper comfort retailer after 4-H play follow to get some snacks and soda.
This may’ve been round 6:20 p.m., so nightfall, however nonetheless mild outdoors. There weren’t any sidewalks on the county street she wanted to take but it surely was only one mile away from her home. A fast Google search estimates a few five-minute bike journey a method.
You already know, I used to be doing chores round there making dinner and stuff, after which in regards to the time she needs to be house. I used to be out feeding the canine and really heard the sound. I heard a crash,” Deidre’s dad David Week stated.
Shortly after listening to that sound, round 6:30 p.m., David stated he determined to search for his daughter.
“I simply needed to examine that out as a result of she ought to have been coming house whereas at the moment,” he stated. “So I jumped in my truck and I went as much as the sting of the driveway.”
Whereas ready to show, he noticed two automobiles fly previous heading north, the primary one a silver colour. He couldn’t describe the colour of the second car solely that one in every of them had a very loud muffler. After they drove by, David turned proper out of his driveway onto County Street HH heading south.
“I used to be wanting after which I noticed her bike in the midst of the street,” David stated.
At first, he thought perhaps Deidre had gotten distracted by a misplaced animal.
“We discovered a kitten there one time, and I believed she discovered one other kitten,” he shared.
Sadly, simply 500 yards down the street from their home, he discovered his little woman, the way in which no father ought to.
“I used to be in all probability in shock at that time and now I’ve seen her within the ditch, and, you realize, she was in somewhat little bit of water too. So, I took her out of there,” David stated.
After a couple of minutes, David went to a close-by home to name 911.
“It was virtually like she was telling me to not be round there any longer. And I needed to, I might by no means determine that out until afterward,” David stated. “That was that, I wouldn’t have had these recollections, and I knew she was gone.”
Then he referred to as his spouse Brenda. Shortly after, first responders arrived, Deidre was taken to a close-by hospital through helicopter the place she was later pronounced useless. Nevertheless, David wasn’t the one one to name 911 that evening.
A person named Jim Vruwink additionally referred to as for assist.
“He had witnessed this scene — this incident happen, and he was one of many ones that referred to as for emergency automobiles,” Lt. Scott Goldberg with the Wooden County Sheriff’s Division stated.
The 31-year-old was the motive force of the second car David noticed that evening.
Now, there are dozens of articles and paperwork that define Jim’s account of that evening, and never all of them are the identical.
“Effectively, there’s so many experiences and so many conflicting experiences. It’s very tough to maintain this case straight,” Goldberg stated. “There’s so many various statements coming in from completely different neighbors and completely different people.”
In accordance with paperwork from the Wooden County Sheriff’s Workplace, Jim was interviewed and spoke with a number of officers on scene, that evening and within the days, weeks, and months later.
In accordance with one report, on the evening of the crash, Jim stated he was driving south on County Street HH heading into Vesper to drop off a automotive half on the town.
On the time, Jim labored with automobiles and nonetheless does to at the present time, proudly owning a used automotive dealership in Wisconsin Rapids. Whereas driving he described seeing a swerving automotive driving towards him, after which a sudden cloud of smoke. It wasn’t till he received nearer that he realized the car in query hit an individual.
Reviews go on to say that Jim noticed somewhat woman within the ditch, honked his horn to get somebody’s consideration, turned his automotive round, and started pursuing the hanging car.
Nevertheless, after studying dozens of pages of experiences, we couldn’t discover one which stated a neighbor heard a horn the place Deidre was hit, together with David who heard the preliminary crash.
After turning round, Jim stated he adopted the dashing automotive for about two miles earlier than dropping it close to a curve within the street. Tenpas Street when you’re wanting on the map. At that time, Jim stated he drove one mile north to his home and referred to as 911 round 6:45 p.m.
Then he stated he switched automobiles so he might have a sooner one, and when you suppose that sounds bizarre, so does Deidre’s household.
“The chase was already carried out and over with at that time. So why are you switching automobiles? After which that automotive broke down on the scene,” Deidre’s cousin Kelli Cornelis stated.
She’s proper although. After switching automobiles, Jim returned to the scene the place later his automotive needed to be towed house due to battery points.
There are loads of questions surrounding the hanging automotive in query. For those who’re questioning if Jim received a license plate quantity, the reply isn’t any, saying he by no means received shut sufficient to see it. He might verify there have been two folks inside, however couldn’t make certain in the event that they had been male or feminine. He additionally stated he didn’t know who the automotive belonged to.
The colour of the car can also be unclear.
“It was presumably a Cavalier Chevrolet physique type or related. He believed that it was a two-tone car, darker colour on prime and presumably silver, grey on the underside, however now we have acquired completely different statements of what that car is — what the automobiles driving down double HH that evening. That has conflicted that assertion,” Goldberg stated. “So, right now, we’re nonetheless not wanting the general public simply to be in search of that sort of a car. It might be any car with front-end harm.”
It’s the inconsistency of the car description that’s an enormous downside for Deidre’s dad.
“He couldn’t give a stable colour of the automotive, and he couldn’t give the make of the automotive, however what was his job? He offered automobiles,” David stated. “That is you realize, that is simply loopy!”
Whereas a two-tone description was given, a report by then-investigator Thomas Reichert lists two different witnesses alongside county freeway HH describing two automobiles. Each point out seeing a silver car matching David’s account.
All through the evening, deputies searched close by taverns, roads, and driveways for a automotive with any harm however by no means discovered one matching the outline given by Jim.
Later, round 11 p.m., about 4 and a half hours after the crash, Jim referred to as the sheriff’s division and was interviewed at his home. The automobiles in his lot had been additionally examined however none had any matching harm.
That very same evening one other man who the household considers to be their “prime suspect,” was additionally interviewed, though, we will’t say for sure if his car was checked that evening or within the hours that adopted.
As you may in all probability guess, we will’t title any suspects as a result of as of June 6, 2024, nobody has ever been charged with Deidre’s demise.
Throughout that dialog with deputies, that individual admits to being at JoJo’s Bar with a good friend within the hour main as much as the crash. Reviews taken that evening additionally verify their presence within the bar.
Nevertheless, the time after they depart is dependent upon who you ask. Eyewitness experiences give a wide range of solutions, some near the time of the crash, others the hour earlier than. In accordance with notes from the evening of the crash, the individual says they left the bar at 5:30 p.m.
The timing is essential as a result of Jojo’s Bar is situated one mile south of the Week’s house, off of County Street HH, and one block from Winches, the place Deidre had left using her bike. Which means if the one that hit Deidre was coming from the bar or on the town, it seemingly would have been round 6:30 p.m.
“There’s loads of hypothesis that presumably alcohol was concerned. May have been simply distracted driving. We don’t know the rationale that this individual hit Deidre,” Goldberg stated.
It’s vital to notice that the one that the Week household stated was behind the wheel was additionally identified to have skilled expertise with automobiles.
Lower than two months later, Jim would bear a polygraph examination about his information of the crash. Within the abstract conclusion, the examiner stated they felt Jim was being truthful to the questions requested.
They included questions like did you strike Deidre Week with a motorcar, and are you withholding info concerning the accident involving Deidre Week? To which he all stated no and handed.
There was one query, nonetheless, that did increase a small crimson flag.
The examiner stated, “The one minuses that I had on the entire examination was somewhat bit on the query, ‘If he knew who had carried out this.’ We had a lot dialogue on that. He definitely doesn’t take a look at out that he is aware of it, however each individual might have an opinion though it wasn’t particular. That minus was so minor that it didn’t have an effect on the examination in any approach.”
We additionally reached out to Jim in hopes of getting his perspective however by no means heard again.
From the very starting of the investigation, the Week household feels just like the case was severely mishandled by one individual particularly.
“We simply, you realize, we simply wished that he would have carried out one thing about it, you realize?” David questioned. “I blame every little thing on him. Yeah, if it weren’t for him, I feel we might’ve had this solved many years in the past. I imply take a look at all of the coincidences.”
Talking with former Wooden County Sheriff Brian Illingworth, he stated, “Effectively, I really saved the investigation going, as a result of after they began their very own investigation that may sluggish issues down. Actually really feel that for somebody who’s misplaced a baby.”
In numerous interviews, articles, and social media posts the household has expressed frustrations about their interactions with Illingworth, generally describing them as outright hostile.
“He received proper in my face, and my brother was there,” David stated. “And so they all thought that he was attempting to get me to hit him or one thing. After which, boy, that may’ve thrown the case. I didn’t, however from that time on, issues received worse.”
“As a result of it wasn’t simply her passing. Nevertheless it was, I imply, there was harassment and every little thing that they had been coping with,” Kelli added.
We requested the previous sheriff for his ideas on the investigation.
“You already know, it’s one thing I can’t overlook,” he stated. “I discover it very irritating. Would have been good if we might’ve been capable of remedy it. That’s actually, that’s actually all I can say.”
Again in 1995 and within the years that adopted, the household very publicly accused the sheriff’s division of deliberately botching the investigation due to the private {and professional} connections between the witness, Jim Vruwink, the potential suspects, and then-Sheriff Illingworth.
So, was he buddies with the witness again in 1995?
“Yeah, I do know Jim Vruwink, I’ve identified him for a while,” he stated describing their friendship. “Jim was a good friend of mine, however under no circumstances did I impede the investigation. If he did it he did it. I’m not going to guard anyone.”
One other level of competition, a large investigation and case examine commissioned by the Weeks means that again within the early 90s, the Wooden County Sheriff’s automobiles had been recurrently serviced at one of many suspect’s companies. Which seems to be true.
“You already know, and it was a battle of curiosity,” Kelli stated. “You already know, someone outdoors of the county ought to have been investigating instantly.”
As a result of Illingworth, the sheriff on the time, thought-about the witness a good friend and had a working relationship with one of many suspects’ companies, the household feels that the Wooden County Sheriff’s Division mustn’t have led the investigation.
Illingworth was sheriff from 1988 to January of 1999. Deidre was killed in 1995.
In a stack of experiences, we discovered an inner doc noting that David and Brenda Week requested for the Division of Legal Investigation to get entangled. That was on April 18, simply three weeks after the hit and run.
Nevertheless, it says the DCI denied their request saying every little thing vital had already been carried out and they’d not have an agent free to work on the case.
Then in August, a letter from Sheriff Illingworth asks DCI to offer an investigator. Which Lt. Goldberg says does occur.
“It’s vital that the general public is aware of that the Division of Justice labored this case fairly rapidly after this incident occurred and assisted with the investigation,” he stated. “So, there was an impartial company that checked out this case.”
It’s been years, perhaps even many years since anybody spoke with Illingworth about Deidre’s case.
We requested if at any level did the present sheriff’s division need to interview him or give him a polygraph and if he could be prepared to do this.
“I do not know why they’d need to give me a polygraph. I don’t perceive that,” he responded.
He added that there isn’t any approach he’s attempting to guard anybody. “There’s solely so some ways I might say I wasn’t complicit to the investigation,” he stated. “I didn’t compromise the division I didn’t compromise myself.”
Whereas Deidre’s household is for certain they know who hit her, the sheriff’s workplace says it’s nonetheless working to search out the proper individual or individuals and make an arrest.
“There’s not one suspect on this case, now we have a listing of suspects on this case, and the vital half about that’s it’s simple to take a look at a case in a short time and decide who has carried out this,” Goldbert stated. “It’s one other factor to make to create this possible trigger to what really occurred.”
Throughout their interview with us, Kelli and David each spoke very extremely of the division now working beneath Sheriff Shawn Becker, who was elected in 2018.
“He’s carried out loads of stuff that was by no means carried out earlier than,” David stated. “So, our household, you may see, it simply made us somewhat extra happier than we had been earlier than all this.”
“I feel we have to notice to the bulk, Sheriff Becker will be the solely individual that really was working right here when this occurred,” Goldberg stated. “This can be a entire completely different group, a complete completely different technology of officers and investigators.”
That features Goldberg who has been with the Wooden County Sheriff’s Workplace for 17 years. Nevertheless, he’s been a part of the neighborhood his total life. He went to Lincoln Excessive College in Wisconsin Rapids, faculty at UWSP, after which started his profession as a deputy in Adams County earlier than shifting again house.
For him, this isn’t simply one other case.
“I went to highschool with Deidre and her brother was the identical grade as me when this all occurred,” he shared. “So it was very close to and expensive, I bear in mind proper the place I used to be after I heard the information as a result of I used to be serving to the neighbor on a farm milk cows.”
When he turned an investigator, he knew he wished to be a part of the group to hopefully remedy this case and provides the Week household solutions.
“I might be the primary individual to say if I knew there was some sort of corruption or one thing just like the rumors have advised previously, I’d be the primary one to return ahead,” he stated.
“I feel that, that in the event that they discover stable proof and every little thing, that they’re gonna do one thing about it. I by no means thought that earlier than,” David added.
Lt. Goldberg was sincere, saying the strategies used almost 30 years in the past are completely different than what they’d use at this time, however simply because they don’t have the reply proper now, that doesn’t imply the case is inactive.
“It’s not a chilly case, it’s an previous case,” Goldberg stated. “It’s vital for the general public to grasp that we don’t promote each interview that we do. It’s vital to grasp that on at the least a weekly, or biweekly timeframe, we’re doing one thing with this case and there’s loads of issues taking place within the background.”
That features an excavation in a Wooden County area related to a pond space to search out the hanging car. Whereas the search was unsuccessful the investigator says the division takes credible suggestions significantly.
“It’s vital for the general public to know that that’s the kind of issues, that’s the kind of investigation that we’re doing,” Goldberg added. “We’re going above and past looking for this car or any sort of proof to this case.”
The division can also be nonetheless investigating Deidre’s case as a murder.
“At this level, we don’t know if she was hit deliberately if it was an accident, we don’t know these particulars. So clearly, statute limitations might come into play if it was an accident, however relying on the intention of the individual, or what occurred,” Goldberg said.
Intentional or not, the household desires solutions.
The household paid lots of of {dollars} to get a large set of county paperwork, together with letters, officer experiences, polygraph outcomes, and inter-department communication from the sheriff’s workplace associated to Deidre’s case.
Kelli has been the driving pressure behind ensuring each single doc they obtain is accessible to the general public on their web site, JusticeforDeidreWeek.com, and consistently updates their Facebook page.
Through the years the household has by no means let their ache cease them from celebrating Deidre’s brief however stunning life. David says they proceed to rejoice her birthday and every little thing else.
The household has additionally put up billboards, held protests, and continued to rally assist from close to and much.
‘I feel it’s actually impacted the neighborhood greater than we thought it could,” Kelli stated.
Dwelling in a close-knit neighborhood, like Vesper, can have unbelievable advantages, like a way of camaraderie and loyalty, however generally loyalty could be blind and in the end get the way in which of what’s proper.
Yeah. I feel a part of it’s persons are scared, persons are cowardly, or they’re afraid of being judged,” Kelli added.
“It’s tough to face the results, however I feel on this case, on this state of affairs, it’s been 29 years — give the household some peace and permit them to determine what really occurred that day,” Goldberg stated.
Deidre was simply an 11-year-old woman using her bike when her life was taken from her. The reality shouldn’t be buried anymore.
When requested about what it could imply to study the reality at some point, David stated, “Effectively, my thought’s that I’ll know, sometime. I’ll know sometime after I cross on, and I am going into heaven, as a result of I’d been a superb father and a superb husband and going to heaven, and I’ll study then. I’ll study the precise fact then.”
Deidre, you haven’t been forgotten.
In case you have details about the demise of Deidre Week please name the Wooden County non-emergency line at 715-421-8700.
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