Leads Tapering Off

April 18, 1995

Week investigation continues as viable reports decrease

By MYSTIQUE MACOMBER

Tribune Staff Writer

A decrease in leads and malicious, inaccurate information has investigators in the Deidre Week hit-and-run case looking for answers.

“We are continuing to follow up leads, although we have seen a decrease in viable leads,” said Lt. Robert Levendoske of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department. “Routinely, it's expected that leads will dissipate over time, but we still have enough work to keep us busy checking things out.”

Week, the 11-year-old daughter of Brenda and David Week, town of Hansen, was killed after she was struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle near her home at about 6:45 p.m. March 24 on County Trunk HH, north of Vesper.

Witnesses reported the vehicle that struck Week was northbound and was driving without its lights.

“With any high-profile investigation, you always have a percentage of incidents reported to you that need to be checked out and even on their face appear perhaps not to be related or perhaps not credible,” Levendoske said, “but we try to sort those out within minimum time invested in that. But you also need to check into things related to the case.”

In the sheriff’s log, a woman reported Sunday she received a threatening phone call from a female subject accusing her in the death of Week. Another woman reported Saturday that a suspicious vehicle twice pulled into her driveway and turned around.

“We have found a number of leas in this case which have proven to be counterproductive to the case,” Levendoske said. “I think some of that information was given quite honestly and with the good of the investigation at heart, and I think some other leads were maliciously given to us.”

“There are a number of rumors reference this case, and we have tried to address those as they come to our attention,” he said. “Some have seemed to have taken on a life of their own. And as with any high profile, rumors will persist with half-truths and ill-gotten facts.”

Levendoske said he thinks this case has drawn much attention “because of the age of the victim and the total innocence of the victim in a case such as this.”

The Rudolph Rock bears a message in memory of Deidre Week painted by friends late last week at the intersection of County Trunk C and O. Deidre was killed in a hit-and-run accident March 24 as she rode her bicycle in Vesper.