One Year After Willow's Death, Kibler Recommends State Agents for Special Recognition

Sunday marked one year since the murder of Willow Long of Watson.

Monday, Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler sent a letter to Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau commending the special agents who investigated the incident and were successful in obtaining a confession from the murderer. Click here to view the letter

Kibler's letter offered commendation for several agents of Illinois State Police Zone 7, headquarterd in Effingham, and suggested special commendation for Agents Jeff Kline and Tim Brown who interviewed Willow's uncle, Justin DeRyke, and obtained a confession. DeRyke later pleaded guilty to first degree murder and received a natural life sentence in prison on May 29.

Kibler in his letter noted the agents still were dressed in their dress shirts and ties despite the terrible heat and humidity during that period of time and the fact that the agents had been working for more than 24 hours at the time they met with Kibler to discuss the status of the investigation and what road to choose to obtain an arrest.

Copies of the letter were sent to Governor Pat Quinn, Captain Kelly Hodge who was then an investigator on the case and is now Commander of State Police District 12, Master Sergeant Ryan Shoemaker who was another investigator and is now Agent-in-Charge of Zone 7 Investigations, and State Representatives John Cavaletto and David Reis and State Senators Kyle McCarter and Dale Righter.

The weather Sunday and Monday stood in stark contrast to one year ago when hundreds of individuals from Watson and the surrounding region joined in a search for Willow, who was then believed to have wandered away from her home, but was later found to have been murdered and her body disposed of in a body of water south of Watson.

Since Willow's death, various efforts have been made to honor her memory, probably the most significant one being the development of Willow Park in Watson. The second annual Walk for Willow is scheduled for Saturday, September 20 along with a variety of other fundraising activities at Watson Civic Center.