THE GIRL WALKED INTO A STORE AND DISAPPEARED – 30 YEARS LATER, A SECRET DOOR OPENED AND THE TRUTH SHOCKED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!
In a quiet town in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a tragedy unfolded that would haunt a community for decades. On July 21, 1985, 15-year-old Christy Wesselman vanished without a trace after leaving her home to walk to a nearby store. What began as a routine trip for a soda and a chocolate bar quickly spiraled into a mystery that would baffle investigators and leave her family in despair. It took 30 long years for the truth to emerge, revealing a chilling story of violence, wrongful suspicion, and ultimately, justice.
Christy’s Disappearance
Christy Wesselman was born on April 19, 1970, and was known for her vibrant personality and active involvement in school life. She was a popular student, elected vice president of her class, and participated in sports like volleyball and softball. On that fateful summer day, after returning home from summer classes around 3:30 PM, Christy decided to head to the local store just a few minutes away. Her mother expected her back shortly, but as the hours passed without any sign of Christy, worry set in.
Initially, her mother thought Christy might have run into friends, but as evening fell, the situation grew dire. After several frantic phone calls to her friends yielded no leads, Christy’s mother contacted the police around 1:50 AM. Investigators quickly mobilized, beginning their search by retracing Christy’s last known movements.
The Investigation Begins
The clerk at the store confirmed that Christy had visited around 4:00 PM, purchasing some candy before leaving with a cheerful demeanor. Witnesses reported seeing her, but no one could recall where she went afterward. As the search intensified, police combed through the nearby areas, but by the next day, Christy was still missing.
Days turned into weeks, and the investigation yielded little progress. Detectives decided to focus on the shortcut Christy likely took through a nearby field. Tragically, it was there that her body was discovered, concealed in tall grass, just a few yards off the path. The discovery sent shockwaves through the community: Christy had been brutally murdered, suffering eight stab wounds. Evidence of sexual assault was also found, but in 1985, DNA testing was still in its infancy, complicating the investigation.
A Long Cold Case
In the aftermath of Christy’s death, detectives faced a daunting challenge. With no physical evidence tying anyone to the murder, they turned their attention to potential suspects, including local men with criminal histories. However, every lead led to dead ends, and frustration mounted as months turned into years without any resolution.
In 1988, as DNA analysis began to gain traction in law enforcement, detectives revisited the case, collecting samples from various suspects. One man, Dana Henry, a 34-year-old living near the field where Christy was found, became a focal point of suspicion. Despite his insistence of innocence, Henry refused to provide a DNA sample, leading to his arrest for contempt of court. After being pressured, he complied, but ultimately, his DNA did not match the evidence from the crime scene.
Henry’s life was shattered by the accusations, leading to significant legal and financial struggles. Even after being cleared, he faced public skepticism and a tarnished reputation, a reminder of how quickly suspicion can turn into a life-altering ordeal.
Renewed Focus on the Case
For several years, the investigation remained stagnant until 1989 when a judge issued a restraining order against a local man named Willis, who had been bombarding Christy’s family with false tips about the case. This prompted police to investigate Willis himself, but they found no evidence linking him to the murder.
In 2000, Christy’s case went cold again, with the killer’s DNA uploaded to the FBI database but yielding no matches. As time passed, the original detectives retired, and the case was reassigned to a new team. It wasn’t until 2015 that a breakthrough finally came.
The Breakthrough
In an unexpected twist, the DNA from Christy’s murder matched a profile in the FBI database belonging to Michael Jones, a 62-year-old man living 150 miles away. Jones had been arrested for domestic violence, and his DNA had been collected under a law requiring samples from those suspected of crimes. Investigators quickly learned that Jones had a long history of violent behavior, including previous assaults on women.
What was shocking was that Jones had never been mentioned in connection with Christy’s case before. His criminal record included assaults dating back to the 1970s, yet he had managed to avoid serious consequences. After being questioned by police, Jones maintained his innocence, but the evidence against him was overwhelming.
The Trial and Sentencing
In September 2015, police officially charged Michael Jones with Christy’s murder. As the investigation progressed, detectives uncovered more about his volatile temperament and obsession with crime stories, leading them to suspect he might be connected to other unsolved cases as well.
The trial finally commenced in 2018, and after years of waiting, the evidence was clear. Jones ultimately pleaded guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence, avoiding the need to disclose details about the crime. The judge sentenced him to 80 years in prison, with the possibility of parole not until 2095. For Christy’s family, this was a bittersweet victory, as they finally had closure but were left to grapple with the knowledge that their daughter’s life had been cut short by a man who should have been behind bars long before her murder.
Reflections on Justice
In the wake of the trial, Christy’s mother expressed her frustration at the system that had allowed Michael Jones to be released early from his previous sentence. She lamented that had he served his full term, her daughter might still be alive today. Meanwhile, Dana Henry, the man wrongfully accused, attended the trial of the real killer, hoping to find some semblance of closure for the years of turmoil he endured.
The case of Christy Wesselman serves as a haunting reminder of the complexities of justice and the devastating impact of wrongful suspicion. It highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the need for systems that protect the innocent while ensuring that those who commit violent crimes are held accountable.
As the community of Glen Ellyn reflects on this tragic chapter, they remember Christy not only as a victim but as a vibrant young girl whose life was tragically cut short. Her story is one of resilience, and though the journey to justice took decades, it ultimately serves as a testament to the enduring hope of her family and the community that loved her.
