Unsolved Cases

"We're saying you will not shoot our children and get away with it. We will put a bounty on your head," Pfleger said about the new billboards, which offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone sought for shooting or killing a child. (Jean Lachat/Sun-Times) Contact St. Sabina's Parish at http://www.saintsabina.org/

My son Deontae Smith, was killed in Chicago in August 1,2009.

It was on the news and in the Sun Times Newspaper, listed Englewood killing as Man died at 19 and teen girl get shot at a block party. The shooting begin when a girl was fighting another group of girls and she decided that she was going to jump on the back of someone car the man that was in the car repeatedly ask her to get off and she refused, so he called her out by her name. I was told that when her brother heard it he decided that he wanted to pull the guy out his car and fight him. When he start fighting the whole party start fighting, and that's when one of the guys just open fire shooting his gun in the crowd. To my regrets they still have not caught the person that shot him.

What's mind bothering to me is that when my son got killed he was at a block party on 60th\61st and Green. Where the block was extremely crowded with people on their porch and on the street. Two people has been shot and no one has seen anything. I guess this is what they are calling a code of silence, because no one is talking. What makes it even worse that the two guys Kippie (Buck)Holiday and Kenny(KD)Doss, decided to have a block party without a block party permit.

The beginning of September, I called and I went into Alderman Joann Thompson, office which is located 5323 South western, three times before she finally decided to talk to me and she verified that they didn't have a permit for the block party. Then I asked her what happen when a person(s) decides to do something like that? And her response was they might receive a ticket or be fined, nothing major as she put it. She also stated that she would look into a few things and make some calls and then call me. But its been since September and that's when I left her office.

I was also told that Chicago Department of Transportation issues the permits for block parties to the alderman. I have also tried to contact them numerous times. I left my name with the commissioner secretary who said her name was Sonya, she said that she would have him to contact me. That has also been over a month and I haven't heard from them either.

Since my son killing I would call the police station every day after the funeral to try and find something out about his case. The detectives, that was assigned to his case works midnight I was told. So since I can't sleep anyway I just stays up to call them. I've only spoke to them twice since my son has died and that was from me contacting them. The first time I called I was told that they would only contact me if they have an update. And I responded that I haven't heard from you guys at all. So a few days later I took my nephew into the police station to make a statement about what happen. And to also look at some pictures to see if he can identify someone. So I was told they would give the statement to the detective working on the case and have him look at it later and he'll contact me.

I waited a couple days before I called again only to be told his partner was on vacation. And if it was any updates that I would be called and that they were still waiting on forensics, which would probably take 6 to 8 months. I was told that they haven't had any change. He never mentioned anything about me bringing my nephew in until I mentioned it. Which is making me to believe that they're not going to work on his case and now one has retire and the other one was ill they say now his case been reassign to another detective a few weeks ago. I hope i'll see some change.

I know people are getting hurt and kids are getting killed every day. I just feel my son case deserves to be worked on as well as others. I don't want his case to become a lost one because it was a black on black crime and not to mention a black kid killed in the Englewood community. I go out as much as I could passing out flyers. We have a $5,000 reward offered for the arrest and conviction of the killer of my son . Since I been passing out flyers I hear bits and pieces of what have suppose to have happen.

The last detective I spoke with told me to just call him, and that he would help me as much as he could. But to remember that he is not assigned to this case. I could keep going but I'll just stop at this. I would like to know, could you help me find out what the city of Chicago does in the event someone has a block party without a permit, and someone get killed? What is the City of Chicago detective procedure or method when they are doing an investigation? How should they contact the victim doing the case? I feel like I am going at this all by myself. I get upset lately when I see cases on the news being solved and it look like they forensic come back fast. But I'm glad at the same time that they caught the person.

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I am an Ohioan, battered in Illinois, hoping to enlist your support in contacting the Sangamon County State's Attorney, John Schmidt, to question why this man, Dean West, hasn't been made accountable for brutally beating me. I have a private photo album with documents and photos and even a wav file of his admitting to having done things to me while he was drunk (Ohio is a one party consent to record phone calls state). There was no reasonable doubt. I did not beat myself up. The link is: http://photobucket.com/information1 and the password is: information1. Please spread the word and help beat the deadline for the misdemeanor statute of limitations running out on September 17th. I think it was a felony but him being charged with a misdemeanor would at least be something. Also, I have decided to go to the Ashtabula County Sheriff to make a report of him initially breaking my ribs in Ohio that weekend so that perhaps something can be done here in Ohio about the DV and the fraud aspect of the matter. I can be reached at robindwest@gmail.com or 440-285-2648.

My name is Rosemary Erickson, and My brother, John, was murdered in Decatur, Illinois, January 1, 2007. He was clearly murdered, as one does not stab himself in an apartment hallway. Rodney Graves, who we all

know murdered John, by attempting to rob John, and then stabbing him to death. Rodney graves was 18 at the time, and had many prior felonies. As a matter of fact, Rodney
was supposed to be serving a sentence, when he stabbed John. Rodney's trial was in October of 2007, and he was set free.

The lawyer who represented my brother's case had never tried a murder case; and my family didn't think he did justice. There were several comments by the detectives and even the state's attorney that Rodney was guilty. Rodney's record in Decatur is that he gets slapped on the hand and is set free over and over. He only served 10 months for my brother's death. My parents are in their 80's and yet to have closure in the murder of their 3rd child; as the rest of us. If there is something more I can
do, let me know. I have written to the governor and the justice system in Decatur; and no response. There is a comment going around in Decatur. If you want to commit a murder and get away with it, kill someone in Decatur.

Amber Alert. Staff Sergeant Rick Williams Rolla Police Department 1007 N. Elm St. Rolla , Mo 65401 (573) 364-1213 (573) 364-6346 Please look at the picture, read what her mother says, then forward this message on. My 13 year old girl, Ashley Flores, is missing. She has been missing for now two weeks. Maybe if everyone passes this on, someone will see this child. That is how the girl from Stevens Point was found by circulation of her picture on TV The internet circulates even overseas, South America , and Canada etc. Please pass this to everyone in your address book. With GOD on her side she will be found. 'I am asking you all, begging you to please forward this email on to anyone and everyone you know, PLEASE. It is still not too late. Please help us. If anyone knows anything, please contact me at: HelpfindAshleyFlores@yahoocom

Kevin was found by his father in his Lakeview Apartment stabbed 42 times in the back, after a night out on Halsted in Boy's Town.

Visit the website above, and please contact the family, the police or Crimestoppers if you have any information at all that could help solve this horrible crime.

IllinoisVictims.Org thanks Ron Clewer, Kevin's brother, for reaching out to IllinoisVictims. Our hearts are with you!