Beth Bentley - 42 weeks now

The only thing "new" to report in this case is the long article in the Chicago Tribune, published on March 10. And that was described here last week.

The article was mostly a re-hash of old news, but there was a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, the Illinois State Police is becoming involved.

There must be something that the Woodstock Police WPD) can say, or could have said, about their investigation during the past 42 weeks! There have been three versions of the Missing poster that is on the WPD webpage of the City's website. Go to http://www.woodstockil.gov/; click on City Departments, then Police, then Crime Stopper Cases/ Press Releases/ Crime Alerts.

The reward on the PD's flier is $2,000 (from the Crime Stoppers' groups); no mention of any other reward. Is the other $3,000 still being offered? By whom? Is there any money left from the $4,000 raised at the fundraiser at Gus's Roadhouse?

Maybe the involvement of a new investigatory agency will result in a completely fresh start in investigations, starting with the lie about the Wisconsin destination for the week-end trip of Beth Bentley and Jennifer Wyatt. When did Scott Bentley, Beth's husband of (now) six years, first hear that Wisconsin was the week-end destination for the trip of Beth and Jennifer.

And then the arrangements for a rental car, if there was one. When was the reservation made, or was there one? When was the rental car picked up? Who rented it? Who picked it up? Was a second driver registered with the rental car agency? When was the end of the planned rental period? What was the mileage on the rental car? Did police take the rental car "apart" before it was returned? When was it returned? Monday? or Tuesday? or later in the week?

What is the status of the marriage of Scott and Beth? Rosy and happy? Any problems? Lots of activity as a couple?

What was the state of business affairs in the office? Any misappropriation of funds? Any undisclosed use of business or personal funds? Every financial transaction (revenues, deposits, disbursements, checks, credit card use) should have been scrutinized. Has that happened?

Was the office broken into on Sunday night, May 23? Was any break-in reported to the McHenry Police Department? Were computers tampered with? Were computer files copied or deleted? Who had keys to the office? Is entry by hard key or electronic key code? Were computers locked? Did they require a passcode for access?

Did Woodstock PD investigators go to the McHenry office and inspect the computers and interview employees?

This case is cold and getting colder. The family should drag in some new firewood and light a fire under it - now.