Without a doubt, one of southern Illinois’ biggest stories in 2013—and maybe in more than a decade—has been the murder of little Willow Long.
Ciara DeRyke
The story has gained readership across the WORLD, and statistics on website hits right here at our site show that there is extremely keen interest in how the matter of Willow’s death—and the multiple murder charges her uncle, Justin DeRyke, faces—will pan out in Effingham County circuit court.
Dale DeRyke
The interest in the high-profile case will likely run for a long time, even after either a trial or a plea ends the matter for Justin. That’s because thus far, investigators have averred from facts already uncovered by journalists (such as the third, and possibly a fourth, crime scene) and have even gone so far as to deny them. But even MORE facts are coming out about the condition of Willow’s body, and a possible motive behind the crime…and as long as the story stays at the forefront, the weak cog in the wheel that’s keeping the full truth from coming out might begin to feel the pressure.
Who is the weak cog? We believe it’s made evident in this front-page article about the arrest of Willow’s mother, Ciara DeRyke, on an Obstruction charge associated with the case. Here’s your noontime Read the Lead, “Murdered child’s mother charged with obstruction“:
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EFFINGHAM CO.—An incredibly-high bond marked the apprehension and jailing of the mother of Willow Long in early December on a misdemeanor count, and supporters of the deceased 7-year-old are still of the opinion that there’s more to come for Ciara DeRyke.
However, the prosecutor in the case, Effingham State’s Attorney Bryan Kibler, is insistent that DeRyke’s misdemeanor Obstructing a Peace Officer count filed on December 9, 2013, has nothing to do with Willow’s murder, and has ONLY to do with the accusation that DeRyke lied to authorities on the morning of Sunday, September 8, 2013, as to the whereabouts of her child “to make herself look like a better mother” while the child was considered missing.
DeRyke, 26, most recently of Effingham, was charged with the single count and arrested the next day, Dec. 10, after she learned of the warrant issued the day before, called the county, then turned herself in at about 2 p.m. She was jailed on a $75,000 bail ($7,500 cash bond) on the 10th.
Officially, she was charged with knowingly obstructing the work of Effingham County Sheriff’s Depties Phil Hardiek and Larry Finfrock on Sept. 8, during the initial investigation into Willow’s disappearance.
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Read the rest of the story by clicking this link to get started with your online subscription, or pick up a print version at these vendors! There are no Disclosure vendors in Effingham County, as too many people are scared to carry the only news product not afraid to buck the authorities, but you can get your print copy of Disclosure in neighboring counties: in Clay, at Needmore Store in Louisville, Discount Tobacco Warehouse in Flora and The Price is Right in Clay City; and in Jasper, at Bottle Junction in Newton, Newton Marathon on Highway 33, MVP Happy Hollar north of Newton on the river, and The Gas Station in Ste. Marie!