Investigator Seeking More Polygraph Tests

July 13, 1995

Judge Denies Week Family’s Claim Against Sheriff

By JENNIFER BENESCH

Tribune Staff Writer

Wood County Sheriff’s Department investigator Thomas Reichert hopes to gain more information in the hit-and-run death of Deidre Week with more polygraph tests.

A petition requesting Wood County Sheriff Brian Illingworth be charged with harassment was denied by Wood County Circuit Court Judge James Mason Wednesday.

The petition, brought by Brenda and David Week, was denied because it didn’t fit the criteria for harassment, said Marge Hess, deputy clerk.

Deidre, 11, died after she was struck March 24 while riding her bicycle on Country Trunk HH, north of Vesper. She was a short distance from her home when a vehicle struck her from behind and left the scene.

“In the last couple of weeks, I have been trying to arrange additional polygraph examinations, but some people are averse to it,” Reichert said earlier this week. “These are not suspects but individuals that could potentially have information.”

He said he is trying to arrange one, and possibly two, additional exams. “They haven’t told me they wouldn’t take it but are thinking about it. I think they are afraid to get involved,” Reichert said.

Jim Vruwink, a witness to the accident, voluntarily took and passed a polygraph test May 11. Polygraph test results are not made public, but Vruwink granted his permission to release the results.

Reichert said he follows up on every lead the department receives. “The typical call we receive is someone saying a neighbor had their car put away for three months or had their car painted right after the incident,” he said.

He said the department has had as many as three new suspects in the past several weeks, but all have been cleared through investigation.

Illingworth said he contacted the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation for help on the case, but an investigator was not available.

Mrs. Week, Tuesday said she believes recent information is bringing the family closer to knowing who killed her daughter.

“I really feel we’re getting closer to the person because people are starting to talk,” she said.