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Jeffrey Willis’ cousin arrested for allegedly obstructing murder investigation

Posted at 12:21 PM, Jun 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-20 12:22:06-04

MUSKEGON, Mich. — The cousin of accused killer and kidnapper Jeffrey Willis has been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice in connection with a 2014 murder investigation.

According to court documents, 47-year-old Kevin Bluhm is accused of lying to Michigan State Police during a May interview about the killing of Rebekah Bletsch.    Willis is charged with Bletsch’s murder as well as with the April kidnapping of a 16-year-old.

Bluhm is accused of lying about seeing the alleged murder weapon that Willis had as well as lying about the time frame he saw him.

He was arrested Friday and charged Monday, according to the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department.     Muskegon County officials say Bluhm is Willis’ cousin.

Bluhm is also a Sergeant at West Shoreline Correctional Facility in Muskegon, according to Michigan Department of Corrections Spokesman Chris Gautz.  He was suspended without pay Friday.

Willis is also considered a person of interest in the 2013 disappearance of Jessica Heeringa.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the date of the first police interview with Bluhm.  It was in May 2016, not 2015.