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Crime Stoppers of Sangamon and Menard Counties announces that the Cold Case Homicide Enhanced Reward Program scheduled to end at the end of September 2016 has been extended for one month and will conclude on October 31, 2016. The special enhanced reward program offers a $5000 reward for any information which leads to an arrest in any “cold case” homicide in Sangamon or Menard County, regardless of how long ago the homicide occurred. Cold Case’s were defined as any homicide investigation in which all leads were exhausted and in which all witnesses, suspects, or persons with information had been interviewed with no arrest having resulted. In some cases, ‘persons of interest’ or suspects were established during the initial investigation however an insufficient amount of evidence was available to prosecute the offender. In those instances, prosecution could have been initiated with a key piece of solid information or the location of physical evidence to corroborate something that was identified during the police investigation. Although there were several tips presented to Crime Stoppers which were forwarded to investigators during recent weeks, none of the tips wielded new information sufficient to close a case. With this one month extension of the program, we are hoping that somehow new leads will materialize.

Victims: Christopher B. Nesch & James L. Crews
Location of Incident: 2035 Grant Street Springfield, IL (Laketown)
Date of Incident: 12/08/12

On December 8, 2012 at approximately 3:40 am, Deputies from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 2000 block of Grant Street in Springfield in the Laketown area regarding multiple gun shots which were heard in the area. Upon arrival, deputies found victims Christopher Nesch and James Crews who had been shot multiple times. Both Christopher Nesch and James Crews had been sitting in a vehicle which was parked on the roadway. Both victims died as a result of their injuries, Nesch at the scene and Crews while undergoing emergency treatment. Investigators determined that a dark colored vehicle, similar in make and model to a Dodge Charger was observed in the area at the time of the shooting.

An Armed Robbery to a person occurred at Spring and Cook Street outside of a convenience store on August 25th at 11 pm and police are hoping you can help identify the perpetrators. On that evening a customer was leaving the store when he was struck in the head and face with a handgun by a subject who was waiting in the lot. The suspect, a black male in his mid to late 20’s, fired one shot which grazed the victim. The suspect left with two other black males in a sky blue Dodge Journey. The incident was captured on surveillance video and can be seen by clicking "Read More".

Crime Stoppers is looking for tips about a shooting incident which occurred during the early morning hours of July 9th on Forest Avenue in Springfield. Sangamon County Sheriff detectives are investigating the shooting in which a person, who was sleeping in a mobile home, was shot by the occupant of a vehicle that drove through the mobile home park. The victim, who was not believed to have been targeted, died several days after being struck by the random shot. Detectives are analyzing security video from the area but need your tips to help solve this random act of violence.

Crime Stoppers brings a Crime of the Week to the public every week to remind you that as you are enjoying the freedom of living in a land that respects our individual rights and liberties, there is – and always will be - a segment of the community that attempts to avoid the laws which were created for our mutual benefit and the common good of us all. We offer cash rewards that help take these criminals off the street – and these cash rewards come from you through your generous contributions and fundraisers we hold.

Our hanger party, which is coming up on Labor Day weekend at the LRS hanger at Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport, is one of those fundraisers. We’ll always be out there helping to bring the criminals we mention weekly on the Crime of the Week and the hundreds of other law breakers, to justice. Please support our efforts and always remember the value of all of the tips that are generated on the Crime Stopper tip line with the rewards we offer through your support.

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