WILLOW LONG - 7 yo (2013)/ Convicted: Uncle; Justin De Ryke - Watson IL

Uncle pleads guilty to slitting his seven-year-old niece's throat 'to put her out of her misery' after he claims she fell and pierced her neck
Justin DeRyke, 22, was babysitting niece and her three-year-old brother while mother went out drinking
Wrapped her body in plastic bags and dumped it in Illinois countryside
Went to work instead of helping 1,000 locals look for body
Mother admitted lying to police and obstructing justice

By Paul Donnelley
PUBLISHED: 20:08 EST, 18 March 2014  

A southern Illinois man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the first-degree murder of his seven-year-old niece.

In September 2013, Justin DeRyke was accused of killing Willow Long near her home in Watson, about 100 miles northeast of St Louis.

He claimed that she had fallen and pierced her neck on a brush stick so he cut her throat and then stabbed her in the heart to ‘put her out of her misery’.

DeRyke was babysitting Willow and her 3-year-old brother while the children’s mother was in a bar and their grandparents at work.

The 22-year-old caretaker said that he had spent the evening playing video games until 10.30pm when he went to his room to watch a porn video.

Half an hour later, Willow went up to him and grabbed his hand to persuade him to watch a film.

As she did so, she accidentally scratched him and he lost his temper.

He yelled at her, he claimed, and she ran out of the house slipping and falling onto a pile of sharp brush sticks, one of which stabbed her in the neck.

DeRyke told police that the girl was twitching and he did not want her to suffer, so he grabbed a knife from his room, slit the child’s throat and then stabbed her in the heart about five times to 'put her out of her misery'.



Justin DeRyke pleaded guilty to the murder of Willow Long, his 7-year-old niece, after initially telling police that he had 'put her out of her misery' after she fell and pierced her neck


Murder: Seven-year-old Willow Long (left) was left in the care of her uncle Justin DeRyke (right) while her mother was out drinking in a local bar. He played video games, watched a porn film and then murdered the girl


Victim: Seven-year-old Willow Long was murdered by her uncle after he had watched a porn video

According to court documents, DeRyke wrapped Willow’s body in several plastic bags secured with duct tape, and then disposed of her in the countryside south of Watson.

Ciara DeRyke reported her daughter missing on the Sunday and around 1,000 volunteers searched for her, finding the remains the next day.

Justin DeRyke went to work instead of helping with the search, raising police suspicions.


Vigil: The town's people left tributes after the remains of Willow were found two days after she was murdered by her uncle

A post-mortem examination showed that besides the injuries to her throat, collarbone and chest, Willow also suffered defensive wounds to her hands, suggesting that she had fought for her life.

Judge Kimberly Koester accepted DeRyke's guilty plea. As part of the plea deal, other charges against DeRyke were dismissed.

‘Justin DeRyke's plea of guilty to the offence of first-degree murder means that society will be protected and the murderer will spend the rest of his life behind bars,’ said Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan M. Kibler.

‘The sentence in this case is the maximum allowed by law. Justin DeRyke will never again pose a threat to any child.’


Willow Long's remains were wrapped in several plastic bags secured with duct tape and then dumped in the local countryside

Ciara DeRyke was charged with obstruction for lying to police investigating the girl's disappearance.

She told them she had seen her daughter when the girl was already dead.

She pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced to 120 days’ jail. She also received 18 months’ probation.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Service have taken Willow’s 3-year-old brother into protective custody.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2583948/Man-pleads-guilty-stabbing-death-niece-7.html

Several things still bother me.   "Half an hour later, Willow went up to him and grabbed his hand to persuade him to watch a film.
"  This is after he watched a porn.  Most likely he wanted to make her watch then do things to her.  She fought back.  The biggest thing is this: "The sentence in this case is the maximum allowed by law. Justin DeRyke will never again pose a threat to any child.’ This is a lie.  We recently had two convicts escape here in Illinois.  The only way he won't be a threat to children is when he's dead.  The politicians here in Illinois just won't bring
back the death penalty. William

Town Building Memorial Park for Murdered Child

Posted: Mar 20, 2014 6:25 PM EST


WATSON-One Central Illinois community is rallying together  to build a park  in memory of a seven-year-old murder victim.

In Watson, thousands searched for 7-year-old willow long when she went missing.

She was found murdered.  Her uncle, Justin Deryke this week pleaded guilty to killing her and has been sentenced to life in prison.

Now, volunteers are coming together to build a memorial park called willow park with a new jungle gym,  swingset, basketball court, park benches and picnic tables. 

The park chairwoman says it's for the children who were friends with young willow to remember her.

"It's very unfortunate, but we're a tight-knit community and we're gathered together to focus on Willow and Willow Park," says park chairwoman DeAnna McWilliams.

They're still looking for donations.  If you'd like to help, you can send donations  to the Fifth Third bank in Effingham, in care of Willow Park, 200 East Jefferson Avenue, Effingham,  62401.

http://www.wandtv.com/story/25032713/town-building-memorial-park-for-murdered-child

DeRyke Hearing Scheduled

Published on May 15 2014 1:21 am
Last Updated on May 15 2014 1:21 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The hearing on Justin DeRyke's appeal of his life sentence in the killing of his niece has been scheduled.

Judge Kimberly Koester has scheduled the hearing for 10am on Thursday, May 29.

DeRyke pleaded guilty to the murder of his niece, Willow Long of Watson, and was sentenced on March 18. Effingham County Public Defender Scott Schmidt later filed a motion saying DeRyke's life sentence was unconstitutional. The argument is based on the single subject rule of the Illinois Constitution. If Judge Koester agrees with Schmidt's argument, DeRyke could choose to seek a new sentencing hearing or could withdraw his guilty plea and the case could go to trial.

If the judge finds that the guideline is constitutional, the life sentence would remain in effect.

The Illinois General Assembly passed a law concerning natural life imprisonment. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that specific law was unconstitutional. The legislature then rewrote the law with the goal of making it comply with constitutional guidelines.

The question Judge Koester has to decide is whether the General Assembly achieved that goal.

In the meantime, DeRyke remains in prison and the Watson community and the Effingham area is moving ahead with work on Willow Park in Watson to commemorate the young life of Willow Long. A dedication is scheduled for Saturday, May 24.

http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/11250-deryke-hearing-scheduled