TWO HOMICIDES left police perplexed as both cases went cold because of a lack of suspects.
However, both Jessica Heeringa and Rebekah Bletsch’s murders were solved with the arrest of Jeffrey Willis.
Who is Jeffrey Willis?
Born on March 6, 1970, Jeffrey Willis is a former factory worker and the murderer responsible for the deaths of Rebekah Bletsch and Jessica Heeringa.
On April 26, 2013, Willis abducted and killed 25-year-old Jessica from the Exxon gas station she worked at in Norton Shores, Michigan.
Despite the victim’s belongings and blood found at the crime scene, her remains were never recovered.
On June 29, 2014, Willis murdered 36-year-old Rebekah while she was jogging around her neighborhood in Dalton Township, Michigan.
On May 25, 2016, Willis was arrested for Rebekah’s homicide.
On September 20 of the same year, he was arrested for kidnapping and killing Jessica.
By May 16, 2018, he was found guilty of first-degree premeditated and felony murder and the sexually motivated kidnapping of Jessica.
Willis was sentenced to life in prison without parole on June 18, 2018.
On November 2, 2017, he was found guilty of Rebeckah’s first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony; he received another life sentence.
How was Willis caught?
On April 16, 2016, Willis attempted to kidnap 16-year-old Madison Nygard in Fruitland Township, Michigan.
His attempt was unsuccessful and Madison was able to escape from his silver minivan by jumping out of the vehicle and flagging down some nearby residents.
When police arrived, detectives noticed surveillance cameras outside of a blueberry farm close to the crime scene.
By identifying Willis’ 2006 Dodge Caravan via surveillance, they were able to bring him in for questioning.
During the investigation, Madison pinpointed him in a lineup of suspects.
Willis’ vehicle matched the car described by customers who frequented the gas station on the night Jessica disappeared.
When law enforcement inspected his car, they discovered his gun matched the bullets and shell casings retrieved from Rebeckah’s crime scene.
Cops also searched the kidnapper’s home and seized his computer.
In Willis’ computer, they found Jessica and Rebeckah’s information in a folder labeled VICS; which they concluded was short for the word “victims.”
Where is Willis now?
Willis remains incarcerated at Carson City Correctional Facility.
On February 2, 2024, Jessica and Rebeckah’s homicide investigations are revisited in an episode of ABC’s 20/20 titled The Murderer in the Minivan.
That Friday at 9 pm EST, The Murderer in the Minivan is scheduled to premiere via the abovementioned network.
Viewers who miss the episode can check out the episode via Hulu.