Norton Shores, Michigan. More than a decade has passed since 25 year old Jessica Lynn Heeringa vanished from the Exxon gas station where she worked on the night of April 26, 2013. Although her remains have never been recovered, investigators concluded that she was abducted and murdered. Their findings eventually led to the conviction of Jeffrey Thomas Willis, a violent predator linked to multiple crimes across Muskegon County.
A Crime Scene Full of Clues but No Victim
Shortly before midnight, a customer arrived at the gas station and could not locate an employee. Jessica’s belongings were still inside the store including her purse containing more than 400 dollars in cash. Her car and jacket were also left behind. Outside, investigators found drops of blood that were later confirmed to belong to Jessica, along with parts of a firearm.
Surveillance cameras from nearby businesses captured a silver Chrysler Town and Country minivan speeding away at the same time she disappeared. Witnesses also reported seeing a man behaving suspiciously in the parking lot shortly before the gas station closed.
Despite intensive efforts that included 12,000 investigative hours, more than 1,400 tips, dozens of search warrants, and multiple ground and underwater searches, authorities were unable to locate Jessica’s body.
Digital Evidence and Witness Testimony Reveal a Suspect
In September 2016, police charged Jeffrey Thomas Willis, a Muskegon Township resident and frequent customer at the Exxon station. Witness accounts matched his appearance and his vehicle. Coworkers told police that Willis had been scheduled to work on the night Jessica disappeared but never showed up and also missed several shifts afterward.
A search of his computer revealed a disturbing folder labeled “vics”, believed to be short for victims. Inside were images of Jessica and the date of her disappearance. Investigators also found murder and necrophilia themed videos downloaded from the internet.
Multiple searches near Willis’s home and at a cabin linked to him failed to uncover Jessica’s remains, although a resident reported seeing Willis leaving the wooded property with a shovel shortly after the disappearance.
Conviction After a Highly Publicized Trial
The trial for Jessica’s murder took place in May 2018. After only 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Willis guilty of kidnapping and murder. One month later he received a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Willis was later convicted in a separate trial for the murder of Rebekah Sue Bletsch, a 36 year old jogger killed in 2014. Police found a gun in his minivan that matched the shell casings from the scene along with restraints, ropes, handcuffs, syringes, and photos of bound women.
In addition to the two murder convictions, Willis has been connected to several other crimes, including:
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The attempted kidnapping of a 16 year old girl in 2016.
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Covertly recording two 14 year old neighbors in 2011 and possessing child pornography.
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Being a suspect in the unsolved 1996 murder of a 15 year old girl.
A Cousin’s Confession of Helping Dispose of the Body
Willis’s cousin, Kevin Lavern Bluhm, a former corrections officer, was charged after providing false information to investigators. Bluhm eventually admitted that he helped Willis dispose of Jessica’s body after she had been assaulted. According to his statement, Willis called him the day after the disappearance and showed him Jessica’s lifeless body with a head wound. He claimed they wrapped her in a sheet and buried her in a shallow grave along Sheridan Road.
Despite these admissions, search teams were never able to recover Jessica’s remains. Bluhm was sentenced to time served and five years of probation, along with mandatory GPS monitoring for at least one year.
A Push for Change Through Jessica’s Law
Jessica’s disappearance prompted lawmakers to introduce Jessica’s Law, which would require gas stations and convenience stores operating between 11 pm and 5 am to employ at least two workers or install a functioning security camera system. The bill has faced opposition due to cost concerns from small business owners and has not yet been passed, although Jessica’s mother continues to advocate for the legislation.
Conclusion
The disappearance of Jessica Lynn Heeringa remains one of Michigan’s most haunting cases. While Jeffrey Willis will spend the rest of his life in prison, closure has remained out of reach for Jessica’s family because her body has never been found. The case stands as a reminder of the need for stronger safety measures for late night workers and the dangers posed by serial offenders who operate undetected for years.
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