They arrested the suspect today. They can link him to at least three crimes but there may be many more. Many Fed Depts are involved, indicating that there are probably many more murders that we don't know of.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/05/jeffrey_willis_a_person_of_int.html
^This is DJ Hilson, a well-known prosecutor. I know the guy; he's a cool dude.
NORTON SHORES, MI (Yes, now you all know where I used to live) -- Jeffrey Willis has been upgraded to a "person of interest" in the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa three years ago, according to Norton Shores Police.
Police Chief Jon Gale issued a press release Monday afternoon that says the department is working with county, state and federal officials on the case.
"Investigators have been working around the clock and have now upgraded Willis as a person of interest in the this case," Gale said in the statement. "Investigators are interviewing known associates of Willis trying to determine the connections to Jessica."
Willis, 46, was arrested last week in connection with the kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl, who escaped her captor shortly after she got into his silver minivan, police have said.
At Willis' arraignment, Muskegon County Prosectuor D.J. Hilson said investigators were looking into Willis' possible connection to the disappearance of Heeringa and the shooting death of jogger Rebekah Bletsch in rural Muskegon County in 2014.
A search of Willis' van turned up five syringes, handcuffs, rope, chains, a mask, rubber gloves, batting gloves, a bar with wrist restraints, a ball gag, and photos of females chained and bound, according to a court document.
Police also found in Willis' van a .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol with the serial numbers destroyed, as well as .22-caliber ammunition.
In his statement, Gale said "we will update the media and families of the victim when we have enough evidence to believe Willis is responsible for the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa."
Heeringa disappeared around 11 p.m. April 26, 2013, while she was working the night shift at the then Exxon gas station on Sternberg Road in Norton Shores just east of U.S. 31. She was 25 at the time.
Witnesses described a silver minivan parked behind and then leaving the gas station around that time. The minivan's image was captured on surveillance cameras as it traveled north on Grand Haven Road, but Heeringa has not been heard from or seen since.
Willis works at, though currently is on leave from, Herman Miller, located just off of U.S. 31 south of the gas station. He lives near the corner of South Sheridan Road and Laketon Avenue in Muskegon Township. Police also searched the abandoned home of his late grandfather on Bailey Street east of Getty Street in Norton Shores. Willis had been seen there frequently, according to police.
The 16-year-old reported to police that a man driving a silver minivan stopped and offered to help her after she spent the night walking up and down River Road in Fruitland Township trying to get to her North Muskegon home. The man offered to let her use her cell phone but once she was in his van, locked the doors and drove off, telling her his phone didn't work and reaching for a handgun, according to police.
She jumped from the moving van and ran for help; the driver exited the van and pointed a handgun at her, she told police.
Bletsch, 36, was discovered lying next to Automobile Road on June 29, 2014, dying of multiple gunshot wounds to her head. Police believe she was jogging when she was shot.
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The first we know of was Jessica (April 2013). This was meticulously planned out; Jessica was comfortable with him. The second was Rebekah (June 2014). This was also carefully planned as Willis knew her jogging route and knew that her family was out of town. She was clearly bound by her wrists (not stated in the article), and then shot on the side of the road where she had been jogging. Again, it appears that Rebekah was rather comfortable with him and knew him. The third that we know of does not add up though (. He begins to appear to be more sloppy, taking a victim of opportunity. He takes unnecessary risks; he does not know the girl. This girl was walking home from a party and had never seen him before. Because of this sloppiness, she escaped. This ultimately was what led to his demise. Also, when they arrested him, he had all of his "gear" in his van, indicating more victims of opportunity in the near future.