Rebekah Bletsch, 36, Murder Investigation -- Dalton Township, MI -- Jeffrey Willis convicted of murder of Rebekah Bletsch

Michigan Jogger Shot to Death, Not Hit by Car

Jul 1, 2014, 8:02 AM ET

By LINSEY DAVIS via GOOD MORNING AMERICA


A fatal hit-and-run investigation in Michigan has now turned into a homicide investigation, after authorities say a jogger was mysteriously shot to death while exercising.

Rebekah Bletsch, 36, was found Sunday along a quiet country road less than a mile away from her home in Dalton Township, an 8,000-population township in the western part of the state.

Despite efforts to resuscitate her, the wife and mother was pronounced dead at the scene.

The physical therapist’s last contact with a family member was around 5 p.m., officials said. She was found a little over an hour later, fatally wounded, with her headphones and cellphone arm band, leaving authorities to believe she was out for a run or jog.

Investigators initially suspected a hit-and-run death. "The first witnesses that found her thought she had been hit by a car until some evidence pointed us in the other direction," Muskegon County Sheriff Dean Roesler said.

Investigators say the evidence included shell casings near Bletsch’s body, as well as a small bullet wound.

The wife and mother had been shot in the head.

Read more:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/michigan-jogger-shot-death-hit-car/story?id=24375914

By Crimesider Staff / CBS/AP / July 1, 2014, 3:24 PM

Mich. woman shot dead near her home, police seek suspect

DALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Authorities say a woman first thought to have died after being struck by a hit-and-run motorist in western Michigan was actually shot in the head.

The Muskegon Chronicle reports that Muskegon County authorities say 36-year-old Rebekah Sue Bletsch's body was found Sunday in Dalton Township, near her home. Sheriff Dean Roesler says no one reported hearing a shot.

Roesler said investigators are looking at several theories, including the possibility it was a "random crime of opportunity."

The sheriff's department said Bletsch was apparently out walking or jogging. A passerby found her about 6 p.m. on the shoulder of the low-traffic road. Roesler said the victim had valuables on her person when found, which makes robbery an unlikely motive, according to the Chronicle.

The paper reports the investigation began as a "probable hit-and-run fatality," but further policing of the scene uncovered bullet casings hear the victim's body. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday. Investigators hope the results will clear up some key details.

Roesler said the victim's husband and 11-year-old daughter were out of town at the time. He said the husband is not a suspect.

Officials are forming a task force to investigate.

CBS/AP

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mich-woman-shot-dead-near-her-home-police-seek-suspect/

Jogging mom, 36, who was found dead after apparent hit-and-run is revealed to have been SHOT in the head instead

. The body of Rebekah Bletsch, 36, was found on Sunday along a quiet road in Dalton Township, Michigan less than a mile from her home
. Initially her death was thought to be a hit-and-run but on closer inspection of the scene, investigators found shell casings
. Robbery is not being considered a motive and the woman's husband is not a suspect, the sheriff's office said

By Louise Boyle
Published: 15:15 EST, 1 July 2014  | Updated: 18:18 EST, 1 July 2014


The 36-year-old mother was found on this deserted road on Sunday around 6pm. She was known to jog along the route daily


Becky Bletsch, pictured with her husband and daughter, was killed on Sunday while out jogging by an unknown assailant

A murder investigation is underway after a married mother, who was initially thought to have been killed in a hit-and-run, was discovered to have a gunshot wound to the head.

The body of Rebekah Bletsch, 36, was found on Sunday along a quiet road in Dalton Township, Michigan where she lived with her husband and 11-year-old daughter.

Mrs Bletsch last spoke to a family member at 5pm before she was found by strangers on the deserted road less than an hour later.  

Attempts to resuscitate her failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene, less than a mile from her home.

It is believed that the 36-year-old had gone for a jog as she was found with headphones and an armband to hold a cellphone.

Initially her death was thought to be a hit-and-run but on closer inspection of the scene, investigators found shell casings.

An examination of her body found that she had a bullet wound to the head. The results of a full autopsy are expected to be released later today.

Muskegon County Sheriff's office are trying to work out a motive for the mother's brutal death and have set up a task force to investigate the homicide.

Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2676845/Jogger-died-hit-run-actually-SHOT.html

Police: Death of jogger Rebekah Sue Bletsch remains mystery; Investigation into 'terrible, terrible crime' continues

By  Heather Lynn Peters | hpeters@mlive.com  
on July 01, 2014 at 11:58 AM, updated July 01, 2014 at 2:15 PM

DALTON TOWNSHIP, MI – Authorities were continuing Tuesday, July 1, to actively investigate the unexplained shooting death of a Dalton Township woman found on the side of the road by a passerby along the victim's routine jogging route.

Muskegon County Undersheriff Dan Stout said the investigation is well underway into the shooting death of 36-year-old Rebekah Sue Bletsch and detectives from several jurisdictions are following up on leads.

"We have task force teams that are out and we are working very diligently on the investigation. We have help from Michigan State Police and the Muskegon Police Department. We are working with the prosecutor's office and the crime labs. We are doing everything humanly possible," Stout said.

"We are getting leads that are coming in and following up on those leads. We will continue to work very diligently and very efficiently to solve this terrible, terrible crime."

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/07/police_death_of_rebekah_sue_bl.html

Task force investigating Rebekah Bletsch death

12:32 p.m. EDT July 1, 2014

VIDEO/ARTICLE:

http://www.wzzm13.com/story/news/local/muskegon/2014/06/30/rebekah-bletsch-death-investigation/11826085/

Wife, Mother Found Shot in the Head in Muskegon County

1 day ago
by Nicole DiDonato
Reporter


Rebekah Bletsch

~Snipped~

This comes less than a day after a couple found Rebekah Sue Bletsch along the side of the Automobile Rd. Sunday evening.

“A couple out driving that stretch of road came along the victim along the side of the road and every indication was it was a pedestrian or someone who had been struck by a vehicle,” Roesler said.

Sheriff Roesler says Bletsch, 36, is a wife and a mother of an 11-year-old daughter.

It wasn’t until investigators arrived on the scene, that shell casings were found.

“During resuscitation efforts my staff at the scene were policing the scene, so to speak, and discovered a shell casing at that time,” said Roesler.

More than one shell casing was found at the scene, but Roesler wouldn’t give the exact number.

“It’s a small-caliber,” Roesler said. “Probably a handgun, but it could’ve been a long gun.”

Read more:

http://fox17online.com/2014/06/30/wife-mother-found-shot-in-the-head-in-muskegon-county/#ixzz36GjR4j2k

Michigan Jogger Shot to Death, Not Hit by Car

World News

Published on Jul 1, 2014
Authorities say Rebekah Bletsch was shot to death while exercising along a country road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWlM5c8mgEY

Police investigate hit-and-run turned homicide

HLN

Published on Jul 1, 2014
Police in Michigan are investigating the mysterious death of Rebekah Bletsch, a mother and wife whose body was found alongside a country road less than a mile from her home.Cops say the 36-year-old went out for a jog with her headphones and cellphone around 5 p.m. on Sunday. An hour later, a passerby found her lying on the side of the road and called 911. Despite efforts to save her life, Rebekah was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5XYqBlCvI8

(JVM exclusive interview of Rebekah Bletsch's sister, Jessica Josephson)

Relative of woman shot, killed while jogging asks for tips to help investigation (Video)

Jul. 1, 2014 10:18 PM

DALTON TOWNSHIP — A relative of Rebekah Bletsch is asking for the public’s help in finding Bletsch’s killer.

The 36-year-old wife and mother from Dalton Township was jogging her normal route on Automobile Road Sunday afternoon when someone shot her in the head.

Her death is just as confusing to her family as it is to those who live in the rural community.

Police continue building a timeline of Bletsch’s last hours. They say she contacted a family member Sunday afternoon around 5. One hour and ten minutes, later her body was found along Automobile road.

Read more:

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/viewart/20140701/NEWS01/307010070/Rebekah-Bletsch-shot-killed-jogging

Michigan Jogger Autopsy a Place to Start in Mystery Slaying



ABCNews LINSEY DAVIS

Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Autopsy results are among the pieces of evidence most likely to help Michigan authorizes understand the mysterious death of a jogger who was shot after initially appearing to be the victim of a hit-and-run.

"It's so rare that you have a random shooting like this with all her valuables with her," ABC News Chief Legal Affairs Anchor Dan Abrams said, adding that cellphone and other electronic records will also be vital to the investigation.

"The fact that there was confusion between a hit-and-run and shooting; it could have been both. Someone trying to make her death look like something else," he added.

~Snipped~

Bletsch's husband was out of town with their 11-year-old daughter at the time of the shooting and is not considered a suspect. He is too traumatized to discuss his wife's death.

His uncle Tim Donkin described Bletsch as vibrant, the kind of person who would always bring a smile to people's faces.

~Snipped~

At this point, ABC's Abrams said, investigators will focus on people who knew Bletsch, including her husband.

"In cases like this, the first person they look at is the romantic partner, in this case the husband," Abrams said. "They will also look at whether he had a motive because he could have ordered someone to do it.

Then they will expand the search beyond him to others who knew her, or who had it out for her."

Read more:

http://6abc.com/news/michigan-jogger-autopsy-a-place-to-start-in-mystery-slaying/151325/

Today's obituary: Rebekah S. 'Becky' Bletsch of Muskegon dies at 36

By  Michelle D. Anderson | manders6@mlive.com  
on July 02, 2014 at 1:03 PM, updated July 02, 2014 at 1:49 PM

   

REBEKAH S. "BECKY" BLETSCH, 36, died on Sunday, June 29, 2014. Her death is under investigation.  

Bletsch worked at Sanctuary at the Shore as an assistant occupational therapist for five years. She had been with the Grand Haven nursing home for seven years. She enjoyed coaching girls basketball at Reeths-Puffer Middle School.

She leaves behind her parents; her husband, Kevin R. Bletsch; her daughter, Elli; one step-daughter, Meagan; siblings and several other loved ones. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 5 at noon at The Lee Chapel in Norton Shores. Visitation hours will be on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Contributions in Bletsch's memory may to made to Elli's middle school band trip to Disney World c/o Kevin Bletsch.

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/07/todays_obituary_rebekah_s_beck.html

------------------------------


ABC News | ABC Sports News

Young Mother Killed While Out Jogging

Police initially thought Rebekah Bletsch was a hit-and-run victim, but later discovered she had been shot in the head.

03:43 | 07/02/2014

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/young-mother-mysteriously-killed-jogging-24393690

Reward offered in murdered Michigan jogger case; family pleads for help

3:35 PM, July 3, 2014

DALTON TOWNSHIP, MICH. — Reward money is being offered for information regarding the fatal shooting of a Muskegon County jogger whose body was found along the side of a road.

The family of Rebekah Sue Bletsch is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her death. Silent Observer is also offering $2,500 toward the reward, which is expected to grow.

The 36-year-old wife and mother from Dalton Township was jogging her normal route on Automobile Road Sunday afternoon when someone shot her in the head. Authorities say she had valuables on her, but nothing was taken.

Read more:

http://www.freep.com/article/20140703/NEWS06/307030094/michigan-jogger-rebekah-bletsch

Death certificate: Muskegon County jogger died of 'multiple' gunshot wounds to her head, hours before body found

By  John S. Hausman | jhausman@mlive.com  
on July 15, 2014 at 11:39 AM, updated July 15, 2014 at 6:04 PM

UPDATE: Investigators say Becky Bletsch was killed minutes before she was found

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – Rebekah Sue "Becky" Bletsch died of multiple gunshot wounds to her head, according to her death certificate.

The 36-year-old jogger's "actual or presumed time of death" on June 29 is listed on the certificate as "3:52 p.m. on or about," without explanation. That's more than two hours before a passerby called 911 to report finding her body lying alongside Automobile Road in rural Dalton Township, about three-quarters of a mile from Bletsch's home.

Because her family wasn't home, it wasn't known what time she left her home in the 5100 block of Automobile for a jog or run, police said earlier.

~Snipped~

Bletsch's death is still under investigation by a multi-agency police task force led by the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office.

Undersheriff Dan Stout had no information on the number of shots that struck Bletsch or the time of death listed on the death certificate.

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/07/death_certificate_muskegon_cou.html

Investigators: Jogger Becky Bletsch was killed minutes before she was found

By John S. Hausman | jhausman@mlive.com
on July 15, 2014 at 5:57 PM, updated July 15, 2014 at 8:56 PM

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – Contrary to the time of death on her death certificate, investigators are certain that jogger Rebekah "Becky" Bletsch was killed sometime around 6 p.m. June 29, not long before her body was found.

"From phone records and witnesses, we are able to establish that she was still alive at close to 6 p.m.," said Detective Lt. Jim Christiansen of the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office.

The death certificate for Bletsch listed her "actual or presumed time of death" as "on or about" 3:52 p.m., more than two hours before a passerby called 911.

But that was a medical examiner investigator's estimate in the first day or so of the investigation about the earliest possible time Bletsch could have been killed, made at a time when her last known phone conversation was at that hour. Since then, investigators have narrowed the window for her time of death significantly.

~Snipped~

The death certificate also listed "multiple gunshot wounds of the head" as the cause of death. To protect the security of the investigation, authorities are declining to reveal the number of bullets that struck Bletsch.

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/07/investigators_jogger_becky_ble.html

Who was Rebekah Sue Bletsch? Investigators interviewing family, gathering details on life of slain mother

By  Heather Lynn Peters | hpeters@mlive.com  
on July 22, 2014 at 4:16 PM, updated July 22, 2014 at 4:17 PM

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – It's been nearly a month since Rebekah "Becky" Bletsch was fatally shot multiple times and left for dead on the side of a Muskegon County road, and investigators Tuesday, July 22, said still no arrests had been made.

But the case is moving forward and new information is being gathered by authorities, according to Muskegon County Sheriff's Office Detective Lt. Jim Christiansen.

Christiansen, whose agency is leading the investigation, said as of midday Tuesday, no arrests had been made in the gunfire death of Bletsch.

~Snipped~

Christiansen said detectives are actively "interviewing people who knew her, who knew about her" in an effort to sort out details of the case.

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/07/detectives_working_on_rebekah.html

Bletsch search warrants: Bruises and 3 shots

By Ken Kolker

Published: September 30, 2014, 5:25 pm  |  Updated: September 30, 2014, 6:47 pm



DALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Three months after Rebekah Bletsch was shot to death while jogging in rural Muskegon County, search warrants are revealing new details in the case.

In a search warrant to obtain Bletsch’s husband’s cellphone records — dated about two weeks after she died — a task force detective revealed that Bletsch had been shot three times in the back of the head and that she suffered bruises to her wrists, hands, back and a leg.

It’s not clear what caused the bruises. Her husband Kevin Bletsch told police he couldn’t explain them, court records show.

Bletsch, 36, was still alive with a weak pulse when neighbors found her on the side of Automobile Road southeast of Whitehall just after 6 p.m. June 29. She died a short time later. She jogged regularly in that area, which is near her home.

Read more:

http://woodtv.com/2014/09/30/court-documents-show-new-details-in-joggers-death/

Sounds like she was physically restrained at the wrists, forced to the ground, held down with a knee to her back causing bruising there, and shot in a prone position in the back of the head. Sick.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Who killed Rebekah 'Becky' Bletsch? Authorities still actively working on case 3 months later

By  Heather Lynn Peters | hpeters@mlive.com  
on September 29, 2014 at 1:14 PM, updated September 29, 2014 at 2:27 PM

MUSKEGON, MI – The same question that was on the minds of investigators back in June is still haunting Muskegon-area detectives three months later: Who killed 36-year-old Rebekah "Becky" Bletsch?

Muskegon County Sheriff's Office Detective Lt. Jim Christiansen said the investigation into the death of the Dalton Township mother and wife is "active" and plenty of people are still being interviewed by authorities as part of the case.

As of Monday, Sept. 29, no one has been identified as a suspect, he said.

"There are still people we are interviewing. We are trying to talk to people and see if we can find anything," he said.

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/09/who_killed_rebekah_becky_blets.html

Family of Rebekah Bletsch wants answers (Video)

Meghan A Bunchman, 8:04 p.m. EST January 18, 2015

DALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) – Friends and family of 36-year old Rebekah Bletsch grow frustrated with the lack of progress in solving her murder.

"At this point I'm angry," said Nicole Winberg, Bletsch's younger sister. "We're six or seven months in and we still have no answers. It makes me wonder if mistakes were made."

~Snipped~

Muskegon County Sheriff's Department has followed up on several leads, but have yet to identify a suspect.

A $10,000 dollar reward is being offered for information in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the Muskegon County Sheriff's Department or Silent Observer.

Read more:

http://www.wzzm13.com/story/news/local/muskegon/2015/01/18/bletsch-murder-muskegon/21968495/

‘They’re in way over their heads:’ Husband, sisters of Rebekah Bletsch frustrated with police investigation (video)

Posted 11:03 PM, January 19, 2015, by Josh Sidorowicz

DALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich — The end of January will mark seven months since Rebekah ‘Becky’ Bletsch was shot and left for dead on the side of rural Automobile Road in Muskegon County on June 29, 2014.

~Snipped~

“The feeling of nothing is being done, it’s just left hanging there with no answers, no leads, nothing,” said Becky’s sister, Jessica Josephson.

“I won’t give up for my sister. I will fight for her and be her voice.”

Both Josephson and her sister Nicole Winberg say they’ve felt lost in the months since Becky’s murder. And their sadness and disbelief is now accompanied by a growing sense of anger.

Winberg alleges police haven’t been as forthright with the family in communicating the progress of the investigation as she expected they would be.

Kevin Bletsch, who acknowledged he’d been considered a potential suspect by some shortly after the murder, said he expected scrutiny from investigators given the circumstances of the case.

~Snipped~

Becky’s death is being investigated by a police task force lead by the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office. The Muskegon County Sheriff did not return FOX 17’s request for comment Monday evening.

Read more:

http://fox17online.com/2015/01/19/theyre-in-way-over-their-heads-husband-sisters-of-rebekah-bletsch-frustrated-with-police-investigation/

Husband, sisters of slain Rebekah Bletsch break silence: 'No one can replace Becky,' sister says

By  Heather Lynn Peters | hpeters@mlive.com  
on January 19, 2015 at 3:14 PM, updated January 19, 2015 at 5:16 PM


Rebekah Bletsch

~Snipped~

"She was motherly. She was the oldest of three girls and she mothered us. She was strong, so strong. We could go to her and she helped me when I needed it," she said. "She was just someone to turn to. She was my big sister."

Kevin Bletsch is now the sole parent to the couple's daughter, Elli, 12, and he said he felt it's time he went public with his grief in hopes that someone will report what they know about his wife's death. He knows that some have speculated he was somehow involved with his wife's death, but that couldn't be further from the truth, he said.

"They go by statistics," he said of investigators, adding that often time a spouse is a first suspect.

"But to me this is a random act of violence. I miss her more and more every day. We've been together almost 18 years," he said.

~Snipped~

She was in great shape, she was fun-loving and did enough talking "for the both of us," Kevin Bletsch joked.

"She was always really outgoing. She was a real people person. She had no fear of anyone. She had no enemies," he said.

Sadly, Kevin Bletsch said the couple's daughter has been the strong one, pushing forward as the rest of the family grieves collectively.

Josephson said her niece has been "amazing."

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2015/01/husband_sisters_of_slain_rebek.html

Moving from Developing Stories to Unsolved Homicides.

By/ Crimesider Staff/ CBS/AP/ November 2, 2017, 6:39 PM

Jeffrey Willis convicted in slaying of Mich. jogger Rebekah Bletsch

Read more:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-willis-convicted-in-slaying-of-mich-jogger-rebekah-bletsch/

Jeffrey Willis guilty of murdering jogger Rebekah Bletsch

Updated 5:39 PM; Posted Today 4:10 PM

By Lynn Moore,
lmoore8@mlive.com

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - Jeffrey Willis is guilty of first-degree murder in the 2014 killing of jogger Rebekah Bletsch in rural Muskegon County.

The 12-member jury returned the verdict after 1 1/2 hours of deliberation following the two-week trial. They found him guilty on Thursday, Nov. 2, of premeditated murder as well as felony firearm.

Bletsch was shot to death as she jogged along rural Automobile Road in the early evening of June 29, 2014.

A shout of praise rang out from the gallery upon announcement of the verdict. Family members later wept as Willis was removed from the courtroom.

Defense Attorney Fred Johnson had argued that Willis' cousin, Kevin Bluhm, was the one who killed Bletsch after borrowing Willis' gun. Bluhm had told police he had numerous photos of Bletsch on his cell phone that he had wiped clean after Willis' May 2016 arrest.

Read more:

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2017/11/jeffrey_willis_xx_of_murdering.html

GUILTY: Jeffrey Willis convicted of murder of Rebekah Bletsch

Posted 5:13 PM, November 2, 2017, by Bob Brenzing and Matt Erspamer, Updated at 10:49PM, November 2, 2017

The Rebekah Bletsch trial lasted almost three weeks.  The jury deliberated for just over an hour after closing arguments Thursday.

"It's been 40 months since she was murdered and about 16 months since he was captured and we're happy that it turned out like this," said Bletsch's father Nick Winberg. "I really thought it would because, I mean, the prosecutor had so much strong evidence against Willis."

(Video, Photo Gallery)

Read more:

http://fox17online.com/2017/11/02/guilty-jeffrey-willis-convicted-of-murder-of-rebekah-bletsch/

____________________

Jeffrey Willis charged with murder of Rebekah Bletsch

Posted 9:13 AM, May 25, 2016, by Josh Sidorowicz, Updated at 04:28PM, May 25, 2016

MUSKEGON, Mich. — A kidnapping suspect is now facing open murder charges in connection to the 2014 unsolved killing of jogger Rebekah Bletsch.

The Muskegon County Prosecutor filed the charges Wednesday morning against Jeffrey Willis, who was arrested last week for attempting to abduct a 16-year-old girl in April.

Read more:

http://fox17online.com/2016/05/25/bletsch-willis/