Missing Crest Hill Woman Wendy Gessing's Son Arrested Again By Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — June 12 will mark the four-year anniversary since 50-year-old Wendy Gessing, who worked at the Crest Hill Pizzas By Marchelloni, vanished during her Saturday night work shift at the pizza parlor on Theodore Street and Raynor Avenue. She has never been seen alive since her disapperance. This week, in an unrelated investigation, Joliet police arrested her 28-year-old son, Joshua "Josh" Gessing, who now lives in Wilmington, according to the arrest report.

Josh Gessing continues to have run-ins with Joliet police and area law enforcement in recent years. He was jailed by Joliet police for four days in 2023 in connection with driving under the influence charges.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, the 28-year-old Gessing was captured on Tuesday and put into the Will County Jail for having an outstanding Will County arrest warrant.

On Tuesday, at 12:45 p.m., Joliet's officers responded to the Walmart at 2424 W. Jefferson St. regarding a retail theft investigation.

Upon arrival, the officers learned that the Walmart staff had initially detained a man as part of a retail theft investigation, but determined no charges would be pursued. Officers identified the man as Gessing and determined he held an active Will County arrest warrant for possession of controlled substances, according to English.

Gessing was placed into custody without incident, English noted.

Will County Jail indicate the Gessing was released from the jail on Wednesday afternoon.

Back in October 2021, Gessing was the subject of a Joliet Patch crime story headlined, "Criminal Charges Dropped Against Crest Hill's Joshua Gessing."

At that time, he was 25 years old. Patch reported that Josh Gessing spent four days in the Will County jail in connection with allegations he attacked a 44-year-old male relative late on a Friday night at a house on Joliet's west side. Joliet police officers arrested Josh Gessing on charges of aggravated domestic battery causing great bodily harm.

During a short phone interview at that time, Josh Gessing told Joliet Patch he was the victim of a wrongful arrest by the Joliet Police Department.

"It was a wrongful arrest," he said. "I was the victim, and he was the aggressor."