Missing woman found dead; police launch homicide investigation

Posted on September 14, 2016

The body of Deborah Dewey was found in a shallow grave in Standard. (Photo courtesy Illinois State Police)

By Eric Stock

STANDARD – The north-central Illinois woman who had been missing for three weeks has been found dead and Illinois State Police have launched a homicide investigation.

Investigators searched a property in the town of Standard in Putnam County on Monday and exhumed a body from a shallow grave in the yard of the residence. It was confirmed though dental records to be the body of Deborah Dewey, 62, of Ladd. Dewey’s body has been taken to Bloomington for an autopsy.

Dewey had been seen last on Aug. 22 in Spring Valley while her unlocked car was found on Aug. 29 at the TA Truck Stop on Illinois Route 47, just north of Interstate 80.

Assisting agencies include the ISP Intelligence Support Unit, ISP Digital Crimes Unit, STIC, ISP Crime Scene Services, ISP District 17, Illinois Conservation Police, Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Ladd Police Department and Kane County Sheriff’s bloodhound unit.

Police ask anyone who might have information should call Illinois State Police District 17 headquarters at (815) 224-1171.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…