DNA leads police to suspect in Ill. teen's 1985 cold case murder
WHEATON, Ill. -- A DNA sample submitted by a Champaign man after a felony domestic battery conviction this summer led to his weekend arrest in the death of a teenage girl whose body was found in an Illinois field more than 30 years ago, a prosecutor said Monday.
A judge on Monday denied bond for Michael R. Jones, 62, who faces murder and sexual assault charges following his arrest Sunday in the death of Kristina Wesselman, 15, whose body was found in unincorporated Glen Ellyn on July 21, 1985.
Police say Wesselman had been walking home when she was murdered, reports the Sun Times Media Wire. She was reportedly last seen walking on a well-traveled path.
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said Jones has denied any involvement in the girl's killing.
"He was a shown a picture of Wesselman and said, 'As God is my witness, I've never seen her before,'" Berlin said.
Jones pleaded guilty in Champaign County in July to a felony aggravated domestic battery charge and gave a DNA sample, Berlin said. A 2002 law requires anybody convicted of felony in Illinois to submit specimens for genetic marker testing.
DuPage County sheriff's office investigators were informed Sept. 10 of a DNA hit in the Wesselman case, he said.
"That law resulted in the evidence that led to the charges in this case," Berlin said at a news conference. "Although it's taken 30 years, we are now on our way to getting the full measure of justice that this case demands."
Over the years, the sheriff department's cold case unit has worked hundreds of leads leading them around the country and spent thousands of man hours on the case, according to Sheriff John Zaruba.
"Since the date of the tragic murder, the case has remained open and active," Zaruba reportedly said in a statement.
The case remains under investigation and anyone with information about the case are asked to call the sheriff's office at (630) 407-2400 or text anonymous tips to 247637 and include the word Sheriff in the message.