Deidre’s Hit-and-Run Death Probe Snags

May 25, 1995

By SARA STEFFES

Of the Marshfield News-Herald

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The only reported eyewitness to the hit-and-run car that killed 11-year-old town of Hansen girl withdrew $500 from a reward fund he set up to locate the driver.

Jim Vruwink requested that Wood County Sheriff Brian Illingworth remove the money from the fund to investigate the death of Deidre Week.

“The reason I pulled it out is because of the friends and neighbors of mine, accusing me of hitting Deidre Week that night,” Vruwink said Wednesday.

Week was riding her bike March 24 along County Trunk HH, just a block from her home, when the vehicle struck her at 6:44 p.m. She died of massive head injuries.

Vruwink, who also lives on County Trunk HH, reported he saw a burgundy or red four-door, mid-size car strike Week’s bike. He reported two people, likely to be males, in the vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Department, which combed the Vesper area, including door-to-door investigations, has had no significant leads in the case. About 200 calls, mostly anonymous, have been received, Illingworth said.

The department suspects most motorists on the road would be local.

“We really don’t have anything substantial,” Illingworth said.

Rumors circulating about Vruwink being a suspect pushed him to take a polygraph test May 11, Illingworth said. Vruwink asked that the test, that reported he was telling the truth, be made public to vindicate him.

“It happened just the way I described it happned and its nothing I’m covering up and the Sheriff’s Department isn’t covering it up,” Vruwink said.

“Jim asked that the test be made public,” Illingworth said, “and the polygraph examiner stated Jim was truthful and that he was not involved in the accident and had no knowledge concerning who was involved in the accident.”

‘The Week family remains unhappy with the investigation. A family member, who refused to be identified, said the family is not putting blame on Vruwink, but believes his story doesn’t match up with other reports.

The family members also alluded to a department coverup, citing the fact that Vruwink’s brother managed one of Illingworth’s previous campaigns for sheriff. Illingworth said he helped with his 1988 campaign.

Vruwink said he understands how the Week family is distraught with no answers as to who cause Deidre’s death. Just after her death, the family brought him roses, and her picture.

“I just wish the guy would come forward - the guy who hit her – because it makes it tough on us,” Vruwink said.

Illingworth said that he did not know the remaining amount of money in the Week account earmarked for the investigation or for the family.