NORTON SHORES, Mich. — Police say they continue to investigate any potential evidence that might directly link the 2013 disappearance of Jessica Heeringa to Jeffrey Willis, who is now facing kidnapping and murder charges.
Jeffrey Willis was arrested May 17 for an attempted abduction in mid-April. Since his arrest, police found evidence to charge Willis with the 2014 murder of Rebekah Bletsch. Police have also named Willis as a person-of-interest in Heeringa’s disappearance after she vanished from a Norton Shores gas station where she worked in April of 2013.
Norton Shores Police issued an update Tuesday afternoon saying investigators have been interviewing several people who knew Willis, including high school friends and former employers. They say that they are aware of the many rumors that have been shared recently via social media and that they are untrue.
“Investigators are determined to follow the evidence and get to the truth,” the release reads. “This investigation is very complex and will take time to confirm all information gathered. As credible information is obtained, the family of the victims and the community will be updated.”
Willis is being held on abduction, kidnapping, murder and firearms charges, as well as child porn charges after files were found on his computer following his arrest. Police previously said they also found a handgun in his minivan that was later matched to shell casings found at the scene where Bletsch was killed.
Bondage equipment and other paraphernalia was also found in Willis’ van, which matched the description of a van seen at the gas station where Heeringa disappeared, according to investigations.
Willis also had large amounts of information on his computer about another woman, who apparently did not know of Willis, the Muskegon County Sheriff told FOX 17. Other cold cases in the county are also being reviewed for any potential links, including the unsolved 1996 death of Angela Thornburg.
