Contact Information: Domrose #563 ~ 630.407.2010

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Sheriff John Zaruba announced the arrest of a Champaign man for the 1985 Kristina Wesselman Murder.

Michael R. Jones (dob/03/5/53) of the 2500 block of Southmoor Dr., Champaign, IL has been charged with two counts of Murder and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault.

Kristina Wesselman, 15 was murdered on July 21, 1985 while she was walking home from the Jewel Food Store near the intersection of Butterfield Road and Route 53 in Unincorporated Glen Ellyn. She was last seen walking on a well-traveled path back toward her residence. Kristina never returned home and was subsequently reported missing by her mother. Kristina’s body was found hours later by Sheriff’s Detectives in the field near the path she was last seen walking.

“Since the date of the tragic murder, the case has remained open and active,” Sheriff Zaruba said. “Over the last 30 years the Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit has worked hundreds of leads that have sent them across the nation and thousands of man hours have been spent to catch the killer in this horrendous crime,” he continued.

On September 10th, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office obtained new information regarding the Wesselman case. Sheriff’s Cold case detectives investigated the new information and located Michael Jones. A search warrant was conducted at the Champaign address on Friday and Michael R. Jones was taken into custody and subsequently charged today.

“The work of the members of my detective division, coupled with the assistance of the Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Probation Department during the capture of Michael R. Jones has made it possible for us to bring this 1985 shocking case to a successful conclusion,” Sheriff Zaruba said. He continued, “I cannot say enough about the professionalism and dedication of the investigators over the past 30 years who have worked this case and their work will now bring closure for the Wesselman family and the residents of Unincorporated Milton Township with the arrest and prosecution of the suspect.”

Jones is being held in the DuPage County Jail and will be in bond court tomorrow morning at 8:00am.

This case remains under investigation and Sheriff Zaruba is requesting information from the public regarding this case or any other incident which may have involved Michael R. Jones. Anyone with information is requested to please contact the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office at 630-407-2400 or by Anonymous Crime Tips via the DuPage County Sheriff’s website or by text to CRIMES (274637) and please include the key word Sheriff in the message.