DNA Links Man With Criminal History of Rape, Domestic Battery to 1985 Murder of Glen Ellyn Teen: State's Attorney

By AMIE SCHAENZER (Patch Staff)

Bond has been denied for a 62-year-old Champaign man accused of raping and killing 15-year-old Kristina Wesselman in a field in unincorporated Glen Ellyn in 1985.

Michael Jones could face life in prison without parole if convicted on charges of murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault after DNA evidence recently linked him to the crime scene where Wesselman’s body was found, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a press conference Monday.

More details surrounding Jones’ criminal history were also revealed Monday. Berlin said Jones pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 27-year-old woman in his parent’s basement in Schiller Park in 1977 after he followed her on her bike in Chicago, rammed his vehicle into her bike and then bound the victim’s wrists, covered the woman’s head with a wool cap and dragged her into his car, Berlin said.

• DNA Links Man With Criminal History of Rape, Domestic Battery to 1985 Murder of Glen Ellyn Teen: Prosecution

Berlin said he served seven years in prison for the rape and was on parole when he is accused of attacking Wesselman during the afternoon hours on July 21, 1985, as the Glenbard South High School sophomore walked through a path in a field from the Jewel-Osco near Butterfield and Route 53 back to her home on Cypress Drive in unincorporated Glen Ellyn.

“She never made it home that afternoon,” Berlin said.

Wesselman’s partially-clothed body was found the next morning by police under two trees near the path. A half-eaten candy bar and a soda pop was found in a bag nearby. Police said she was raped and stabbed eight times.

Jones on July 2, 2015, entered a guilty plea to a charge of aggravated domestic battery in Champaign County. Since it was felony, Jones was required to submit a DNA evidence. That sample was entered into a national database.

“Recently, on September 10, 2015, investigators from the sheriff’s office were informed there was a hit between that DNA profile from the victim and an offender in the database and that offender was Michael Jones,” Berlin said.

A search warrant was issued on Sept. 18 and required Jones to submit a buccal swab. That was submitted to the crime lab and Berlin said it further linked Jones to the rape of Wesselman. Wessleman was arrested Friday and has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail.

“Three decades have passed since Kristy Wesselman was brutally murdered and sexually assaulted,” Berlin said. “Her family and friends have waited a long time for justice in this senseless murder. Kristy was a beautiful young girl with an extremely promising future in front of her until that horrible afternoon when the defendant, Michael Jones allegedly took her life. No amount of time can heal the wounds that to this day are as fresh as they were more than thirty years ago. It is my sincerest hope that with today’s charges the healing process will begin for Kristy’s family and friends.”

In 2002, a law introduced by former DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett was passed in Illinois, which required anyone convicted of a felony offense in the state to submit blood, saliva and tissue for genetic marker testing, Berlin said.

“And that law passed in August of 2002 resulted in the evidence, which lead to the charges in this case,” Berlin said Monday.

Jones is next expected in court on Oct. 13, 2015, for an arraignment.

Watch the full press conference below.