Who Killed Deidre Week?
On March 24, 1995, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a vehicle struck and killed 11-year-old Deidre Week as she pedaled home after play practice. After first stopping at Winch’s Mini Mart to buy treats for her and her brother, Deidre headed for home (just a few minutes away) on County Highway HH, immediately north of Vesper, Wisconsin. The sole eyewitness to the event reported that there were two people in the hit-and-run vehicle.
Her death at the time was classified as a hit-and-run. The statute of limitations to file hit-and-run charges expired in 2001; however, there is no time limit for vehicular homicide.
Prior to 2001, Deidre’s family was promised a John Doe investigation by the former District Attorney, Greg Potter, but that never happened…despite the fact that stories didn’t match, alibis didn’t add up, and people who should have been immediately questioned were not. To that end:
The sole eyewitness, Jim Vruwink, reported differing versions of the event including conflicting descriptions relative to the model and color of the hit-and-run car. Other neighbors who saw the striking car reported it as generally being the same color – silver/light gray
The sole eyewitness was reportedly unsuccessfully in pursuit of the striking vehicle. He drove to his home, placed a 911 call, and then hurried back to the scene IN A DIFFERENT CAR. The investigative reports do not satisfactorily explain what happened to his first car, a light-colored/silver/gray Dodge Omni.
The eyewitness’s brother, Tom Vruwink, left a nearby tavern (per the reporting of several patrons) at approximately 6:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. This would place him mere minutes away from the scene; however, he was not interviewed until over 3 hours later. Additionally, the car in which he was a passenger (a silver Grand Am) was driven to Custer. The gentleman, Roger Yenter, who lived in Custer and who, by the report, purchased this Grand Am earlier in the day from the brothers, was not interviewed until much, much later. Both parties gave grossly contradicting statements as to their activities that afternoon and evening, yet investigators did not realize this or chose to ignore the inconsistencies.
During the time when Deidre’s father briefly left the scene to summon help and after the arrival of rescue personnel, Deidre’s bike was moved. Who moved the bike? Per Investigator Reichert’s timeline narrative (05-30-95), at approximately 6:45 PM an individual saw “the driver of a red truck throw Deidre Week’s bicycle into the ditch.” A third brother of these suspects was driving a red truck that evening. Why wasn’t this properly investigated?
Sheriff Brian Illingworth at the time shared a personal friendship with the eyewitness and his family and still does to this day.
Tom Reichert, who was then the main investigator in Deidre’s case and later the Wood County Sheriff (2005 - 2018), also associates personally with the main suspects in this case. Anyone reviewing the numerous reports recorded by Mr. Reichert can’t help but reach the conclusion that he and former Sheriff Illingworth, despite the discrepancies referenced above and other facts not listed here, had already concluded early in the investigation that the issue was closed relative to these suspects.
A case study, written by an unknown author, very clearly demonstrates the numerous inconsistencies, lost opportunities, and other errors made by Wood County Sheriff's Department during their investigation into Deidre’s death. This study puts the facts and people involved together in a timeline that makes for a very strong circumstantial case. Why didn’t Sheriff Illingworth and Tom Reichert do that? Deidre’s right to a proper investigation has been tainted and interfered with for over 20 years. We should be able to trust in our law enforcement to do what is right.