Willow Long, Misssing 7 Year Old Found Dead, Uncle Charged With Her Murder -- Watson, Ill

Willow Long

Willow Long Dead: Justin DeRyke, Uncle Of Missing Illinois Girl, Charged With Murder [PHOTO]

By Howard Koplowitz
on September 10 2013 3:30 PM


Justin DeRyke has been charged in the death of his niece, Willow Long. Effingham County Sheriff's Office

The body of a small child found Monday night in Effingham County, Ill., has been identified as missing Illinois girl Willow Long. After finding the remains, authorities charged Willow’s uncle, Justin D. DeRyke, with her murder.

Willow, 7, was last seen alive Sunday walking away from her home in Watson, Effingham County radio station 97.9 XFM reported. A two-day search ended Monday night when volunteers found the body of a small child that was later identified as Willow. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.

~Snipped~

“On Tuesday, September 10, at approximately  5:55 a.m., agents of the Illinois State Police Zone 7 Investigations placed Justin DeRyke, 22, of Watson, Ill., under arrest for the murder of Willow Long, 7, of Watson. Mr. DeRyke is the maternal uncle of the deceased child,” the attorney’s office said in a statement.

~Snipped~

Willow lived with her mother, uncle and grandparents. Her mother and DeRyke were the only ones home at the time the 7-year-old girl went missing, according to KTVI. She was watching a Disney movie with her 3-year-old brother Sunday morning when her mother decided to go to bed after feeling ill. When Willow’s mother woke up, her son pointed to the door to tell her that Willow had left the home.

Read more:

http://www.ibtimes.com/willow-long-dead-justin-deryke-uncle-missing-illinois-girl-charged-murder-photo-1404097

Uncle charged with murder of missing 7-year-old Illinois girl (Video)

by KMOV.com staff
Posted on September 10, 2013 at 6:56 AM
Updated today at 7:50 PM


(KMOV) -- A man faces charges after he allegedly killed his 7-year-old niece who had gone missing from her home in Effingham County, Ill. over the weekend.

Police confirmed the body of Willow Long was found by four search volunteers in an area south of Watson around 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Her uncle, 22-year-old Justin DeRyke, was arrested at 5:55 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities said he would officially be charged with first-degree murder Wednesday and it is possible more charges will be filed.

Read more:

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Body-of-small-child-found-in-Illinois-could-be-missing-7-year-old-girl-223108311.html

Photo Gallery:

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Body-of-small-child-found-in-Illinois-could-be-missing-7-year-old-girl-223108311.html?gallery=y&img=0&c=y

Uncle arrested in death of 7-year-old Willow Long

By Leslie Bentz and Mayra Cuevas, CNN
updated 4:36 PM EDT, Tue September 10, 2013


Willow Long, 7, of rural Effingham County, Illinois, was missing since Sunday

~Snipped~

Willow's body was found south of the town of Watson.

The girl was watching television with her brothers on Sunday when her mother, who wasn't feeling well, lay down for a nap. When she woke up, Willow had vanished.

When she asked her 3-year-old son where her daughter was, he pointed to the front door.

Willow disappeared between 9 and 10:15 a.m. The second-grader left her glasses at home.

Willow evidently changed clothes before leaving her house. Police said the clothes her mother described her as wearing were found in the family home.

Read more:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/10/us/illinois-girl-missing/?hpt=hp_t2

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Justin DeRyke, uncle of Willow Long, arrested for her death (Video)

Posted on: 11:53 am, September 10, 2013, by George Sells, updated on: 07:26pm, September 10, 2013

EFFINGHAM, IL (KTVI) -The seven year old girl reported to have wandered away from her home Sunday has been found dead, and her uncle is charged with murder. Willow Long’s body was found near a river bed about two miles from her home. The girl’s grandfather, Dale DeRyke, is also the father of the alleged killer, and he describes the act as one of panic after an accident.

Dale DeRyke says Justin was babysitting the little girl on Saturday night. He says the two were playing, chasing one another around the house, when Willow ran outside. He says there is a pile of sticks he keeps in the back and the girl fell into them.

“A stick went through her and through her head,” he said Tuesday night. “She was laying there twitching and dying. My son is 22 years old. He’s not….he’s never had experiences like this. He was scared. He hid her body.”

Now he says his son has “nothing but remorse,” and will have to pay for what he’s done.

There are still unanswered questions surrounding his story. Police say the mother told them she saw Willow Sunday morning watching television. That clearly isn’t possible if the child was already dead.

Read more:

http://fox2now.com/2013/09/10/suspect-being-held-for-suspicion-of-murder/

UPDATE: Body Found South of Watson Identified as Missing Willow Long, Uncle Charged in her Death

Published on September 8 2013 12:54 pm
Last Updated on September 10 2013 10:21 pm
Written by Wayne Moran

A photo gallery images from the search for Willow is located here

TUESDAY UPDATE: We have confirmed that Willow Long's Uncle, Justin D. DeRyke (Dee-Rike), is in custody in the Effingham County Jail, being held on a count of First Degree Murder in 7-year old Willow's death. DeRyke's initial court appearance will be at 1pm Wednesday in Effingham County Circuit Court. Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler said a press conference will follow the hearing. When asked about whether there are additional suspects in Long's death, Kibler said "no comment".

After a massive two-day search for missing 7-year old Willow Long, four volunteer searchers found the body of a small child south of Watson Monday evening at about 7:30pm Monday evening. After an autopsy Tuesday morning, it was confirmed that the body is that of Willow Long.

ISP investigators combed the scene, in an area that's located south of a small rest area on Illinois Route 37.


Illinois State Police cordoned off the area around Long's residence in Watson Tuesday morning.


Read more:

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/7442-update-body-of-small-child-found-near-search-area-for-missing-willow-long

Monday evening update on missing 7-year old girl from Watson, IL

979 XFM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihkuSSRPBuc#action=share




Effingham County Sheriff John Monnet talks about missing 7-year old

979 XFM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMWhqyQ5QuQ#action=share

Interview with DeRyke reveals details in Willow Long’s death (Video)

Posted on: 3:17 pm, September 11, 2013, by Joe Millitzer and Roche Madden, updated on: 06:49pm, September 11, 2013

EFFINGHAM, IL (KTVI) – The gruesome details of the murder of a 7-year-old Watson, Illinois girl came to light in an Effingham court room. The state’s attorney said the girl’s own uncle informed police he killed Willow Long to put her out of her misery.

Justin DeRyke has been charged with three counts of 1st degree murder for the death of Willow Long. Now, the Effingam County States Attorney has released a probable cause statement in the case. A timeline of events surrounding the death of Willow Long has come to light according to interviews by police with the suspect and immediate family of the victim.

The details of this story are extremely graphic. Please proceed reading with caution.

~Snipped~

Illinois State police re-interviewed Justin DeRyke on Monday. He said he spent most of the evening playing video games with friends online. At 10:30pm he went to the bathroom to watch a pornographic video for a half hour. Justin was walking back to his bedroom from the bathroom when Willow tugged on his forearm and asked him to watch television with her.

According to Justin DeRyke the tug that Willow gave him scratched his skin, it started to bleed. He became angry at the sight of blood and started to yell at the 7-year-old. He said that she ran out of the home towards a brush pile. She tripped and got a stick impaled in her neck. He said she then began to twitch on the ground.

Justin DeRyke then said he had to end her suffering. He said he went into his bedroom, grabbed a knife and went to where Willow was laying. DeRyke said he slit the girl’s throat and stabbed her in the heart about five times.

~Snipped~

Read the full statement below:

http://fox2now.com/2013/09/11/new-details-emerge-in-death-of-willow-long/

$5 million bond set for Justin DeRyke

September 11, 2013

Jackson Adams and Tony Huffman
Effingham Daily News

EFFINGHAM — Bond was set at $5 million for Justin DeRyke, the uncle accused of murdering 7-year-old Willow Long, in a probable cause hearing that revealed gruesome details surrounding her death.

In a packed courtroom, filled with family, volunteers and members of the press, Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler said interviews with DeRyke Sunday and Monday led to his arrest. He said interviews with the family revealed Ciara DeRyke, Long's mother, had left her home, at 104 Circle Drive in Watson where she lived with her parents, Dale and Debra DeRyke, as well as the defendant Justin DeRyke and her children, Long and 3-year-old son Nathaniel Graves. She went to a bar at about 7 p.m. Saturday, leaving Justin DeRyke to watch Graves and Long. She would not return home from the bar until after midnight.

~Snipped~

Ciara DeRyke had previously told police she had made Willow and Graves breakfast on Sunday before going to bed again. She had woken up and called law enforcement to report that Long had gone missing at 10:46 a.m. and Long's glasses were still in the house when she left, which was unusual because Long was extremely near-sighted.

Read more:

http://effinghamdailynews.com/local/x789526962/-5-million-bond-set-for-Justin-DeRyke

DCFS Takes Custody of Willow Long’s Brother

September 13, 2013

(Watson, IL)  – Willow Long’s three-year-old brother has been taken into state custody.  Department of Children and Family Services Spokesman Dave Clarkin says they received a call about possible abuse on Sunday, one day before Willow’s body was found on the outskirts of town, near Watson.  

“The department is now the child’s legal guardian. Any of the recommendations of the department regarding the child’s well being must be considered or approved by a judge.” Clarkin said.

Clarkin says it was the first time they’d received a call about Willows’ family, but the girl’s mother and uncle are under investigation.  Willow’s uncle has been charged with first-degree-murder for allegedly stabbing her multiple times in the throat and chest.  There’s a possibility that Willow’s mother may be charged for misleading police.  She originally reported seeing Willow alive Sunday morning.  The girl was actually killed on Saturday.  

Read more:

http://mvnnews.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/dcfs-takes-custody-of-willow-longs-brother/

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Willow Long Update: Mother of slain Ill. girl investigated by state child and family services, spokesman says

September 13, 2013 3:14 PM

CBS/AP) EFFINGHAM, Ill. - The mother of slain Illinois girl Willow Long is being investigated by the state's Department of Children and Family Services (DCF), and the girl's three-year-old brother has been taken into protective custody by the department, a DCF spokesman tells CBS News' Crimesider.

The DCF is also investigating the girl's live-in uncle, said spokesman Dave Clarkin, who also said he's subject of a criminal investigation. Twenty-two-year-old Justin DeRyke was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the death of the 7-year-old girl.  Prosecutors say DeRyke told investigators he killed his niece to end her suffering after she accidentally fell onto a brush pile Saturday and pierced her neck with a stick near the family's Watson, Ill. home.

Read more:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57602854-504083/willow-long-update-mother-of-slain-ill-girl-investigated-by-state-child-and-family-services-spokesman-says/

"Meanwhile, Clarkin says the death of Willow adds to the long list of kids killed by abuse or neglect in Illinois this year.  He reports more than 220 kids have died, most who lived in southern Illinois.

“Southern Illinois has a child homicide rate that is twice the state average,” Clarkin said, “Thats based on a recent study by the department.”

He’s encouraging everyone who suspects abuse to report it as soon as possible."

http://mvnnews.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/dcfs-takes-custody-of-willow-longs-brother/

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[Debbie DeRyke, Willow Long's grandmother, speaks out for the first time

7:22 PM, Sep 13, 2013



Video - Click to play

By Steve Patterson

WATSON, Ill. (KSDK) -- A community in Effingham County continues to mourn after a 7-year-old girl first reported missing was later found dead in an apparent homicide.

Now, the Willow Long's grandmother is speaking out.

"She was like my pride and joy," Debbie DeRyke, Willow's grandmother, said. "When I heard what happened, I balled like a baby, it's like out of a dream."

~Snipped~

Her son, Justin DeRyke is accused of murdering his own niece. She says she's stunned about any involvement from Justin, but didn't jump to his defense.

"We had no idea that maybe our son had some problems," she said. "I don't know, We are asking ourselves over and over was there any signs we might have missed, was there something we didn't know."

Read more:

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/397791/3/Willow-Longs-grandmother-speaks-out-for-first-time

Family and Friends gather to remember Willow Long

Posted on: 5:45 pm, September 14, 2013, by Staff Writer

EFFINGHAM, IL. (KPLR) – Friends and family are gathering in Effingham, Illinois to remember 7-year-old Willow Long.

She was murdered last Saturday in the nearby town of Watson.

Her uncle is in custody for the crime.

Visitation started at 5 pm Saturday and ends at 9 pm.

It’s being held at Heart’s Rock Café at the Effingham high school.

Her family asks, that in lieu of flowers, to make memorial contributions to any local organization that helped search for Willow.

Funeral services are scheduled for Monday.

Video @ Link:

http://kplr11.com/2013/09/14/family-and-friends-gather-to-remember-willow-long/

VIDEO:

http://www.wicd15.com/news/top-stories/stories/funeral-arrangements-set-willow-long-8369.shtml?wap=0

Willow Long laid to rest

Posted on: 10:02 pm, September 16, 2013, by Staff Writer

(KTVI)– Seven-year-old Willow Long was laid to rest in Effingham, Illinois Monday. Long was killed last week.

Her body was found during a search, two days after her mother reported her missing.

Police say her uncle stabbed her to death.

People attending Monday’s funeral wore purple, Willow’s favorite color.

Many say they didn’t know her, but felt her story hit close to home

Read more:

http://fox2now.com/2013/09/16/willow-long-laid-to-rest/

Girl allegedly killed by uncle eulogized as loving

Tuesday, September 17, 2013
The Associated Press



September 17, 2013 (EFFINGHAM, Ill.) -- A 7-year-old southern Illinois girl who authorities say was stabbed to death by an uncle was laid to rest Monday after mourners eulogized her as a loving, angelic child.

Prosecutors in Effingham County have charged Justin DeRyke, 22, with first-degree murder in Willow Long's death, alleging he stabbed the girl to death late Sept. 7 or early Sept. 8 near the family's home in Watson, a 730-resident village about 100 miles northeast of St. Louis.

"I've thought and I've prayed and I've prayed and I've thought about what I could say about Willow and I realized that there's nothing that I can tell everyone here about Willow that you don't already know," the Effingham Daily News (http://bit.ly/169oFlt) quoted Thomas Long as telling some 150 mourners during his daughter's funeral. "She was wonderful and perfect, and we all loved her."

Read more:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/illinois&id=9252005