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STREATOR — The mother of a 7-year-old Streator boy murdered 11 years ago said Wednesday she knows who did it and applauds investigators for their continuing efforts to build a case.

Michelle Mesarchik would not give any details about who she regards as the killer of her son, Dalton, but said state police eventually will make an arrest.

Acting state police commander Greg Lindemulder, on the 11th anniversary of the homicide, said “absolutely” the case would be solved but had no comment on the mother’s suspicions.

Dalton Mesarchik disappeared March 26 in front of his home. His mother said he was waiting for a church van that never arrived. When he didn't show up at the church, community volunteers combed the area until a fisherman found the boy's body in Livingston County on a Vermilion River bank a short distance from his home.

A short sledge hammer was recovered in a trash bin shortly after the murder and was identified as the murder weapon.

The investigation has never gone to the cold case file and authorities have followed up on 1,900 leads both locally and out of state, with 500 pieces of evidence recovered so far, said police.

Lindemulder would not discuss the evidence.