Key events in Livingston County in 2014 (l-r, top row): Dwight Police Chief Tim Henson and Livingston County Coroner Michael Burke briefing the press on the Denker murders in June; The Palamar Motel, site of the murder of Jean Corrice and Tyler Friant; Livingston County Sheriff Tony Childress; (bottom l-r) Steve Kim and Dan Rutherford on the campaign trail; Jason Collins at the time of his arrest; Kianna Rudecil's school portrait.
By Todd Wineburner
PONTIAC – 2014 in Livingston County was a year of closure for a number of issues that emerged the year before as three major criminal cases were concluded.
Cody Hetherington pleaded guilty in early summer to murdering his mother, Jean Corrice, and half-brother, Tyler Friant, in August of 2013. Hetherington was sentenced to 55 years in prison. Jason Collins of South Carolina entered a guilty plea as well. Collins was charged with aggravated DUI and other charges in connection with the accident that took the life of Pontiac police officer Casey Kohlmeier in Oct. of 2013. On Dec. 8, Collins was sentenced to 12 years and will be required to serve 85 percent of that sentence.
Heather Lamie was accused of murder for the death of 4-year-old Kianna Rudecil in 2011. A jury found Lamie guilty in October and she’ll be sentenced in January.
Livingston County State’s Attorney Seth Uphoff said having these cases closed can’t change the past, but it can ease the future for those involved.
“I think it brings them a bit of relief,” Uphoff said. “I think it brings them a bit of finality, and will help them continue moving on."
Tragedy struck the county as Donna and Kelli Denker of Dwight were murdered in mid-June. A man present at the home when the two were killed survived the attack. The case remained officially unsolved, but later in June, LaSalle County sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve a felony arrest warrant for robbery on Joseph Sipple, 27, at a residence in Sheridan. During the encounter, Sipple attempted to flee but was cornered, at which time he took his own life rather than surrender to police. The weapon recovered at the scene was a .40 caliber Glock pistol that was stolen from a Morris residence. Dwight Police Chief Tim Henson said that gun was the weapon used to kill Donna and Kelli Denker on June 14. Other evidence linking Sipple to the Denker murders was recovered at the Sheridan location, and in October the investigation into the murder was officially closed.
In another ongoing story, Livingston County Chief Deputy Tony Childress won the Republican primary in the Sheriff’s race in March. As there were no Democrats running, Childress’s win made him the permanent replacement for Martin Meredith, who resigned from the Sheriff’s office in 2013-that departure coming in the midst of an investigation for misconduct. On the night of the primary, Childress said his goal was positive change.
“I will always try to be absolutely certain that we are maintaining fiscal responsibility,” Childress said, “while doing the best we can to make sure that we are one of the safest counties in this nation.”
Pontiac native son Dan Rutherford didn’t fare so well politically in 2014. Misconduct allegations derailed his gubernatorial bid, and as his campaign ended as it had begun, in his hometown of Pontiac, Rutherford said it represented a low-water mark in his political life.
“These last six weeks have truthfully been the most challenging of my entire life. There’s no question about it,” Rutherford told reporters gathered at Pontiac’s Baby Bull’s restaurant. “It’s been horrible.”
As Bruce Rauner was winning the Republican primary, Rutherford assured his supporters that he’d be back. He said recently, though, that once he finishes his job as state treasurer, he’s going scuba diving.
In medicine, OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center President and CEO David Ochs announced his retirement in 2014. 2015 will begin with new administrator Bradley Solberg, whose appointment was announced in December.
On the economic front, Invenergy corporation in September filed an application for a wind farm that will cover much of southeastern Livingston County if approved. Many strongly oppose the project, and a series of public hearings will continue in early 2015. The Livingston County Board hopes to vote on the proposal in the next few weeks. Another major industry is hoping to come to Pontiac-marijuana cultivation. Two different companies signed agreements with city in 2014. Should the state approve one of them, a facility will be built on Pontiac’s southwest corner near Interstate 55.
Todd Wineburner can be reached at [email protected].
