The June report of the Woodstock Police Department to the City Manager and the City Council provides the current status of its investigations into the disappearance of Beth Bentley, who vanished in May 2010 from (where?) ... Centralia. Or was it from Mount Vernon? Or was it from Woodstock?
The report? Same as the May one-sentence report, plus one sentence. What's that line is the song? "Same verse; same as the first."
Said the PD: "The Investigations Division continues to aggressively follow up on all leads and investigate the Endangered Missing Person Benedetta "Beth" Bentley case. The Investigations Division maintains contact with the Illinois State Police and all other police agencies involved in this case for updates and sharing of intelligence/information."
One of my all-time favorite speakers was Bill Oncken, Jr. (1912-1988). He gave a talk that became famous, titled The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey. I heard a tape of his talk in 1989 and bought a copy. I listen to it at least once a year and enjoy it every time. I'm sure that, if Mr. Oncken had read the PD's report month after month, he would have called in the Chief and asked, "WHAT'S THIS?" And he might not have stopped after "THIS".
The people of Woodstock are owed more information about the "missing person" case of Beth Bentley. When her own family isn't standing in the Square, screaming for answers and justice, then the City should step up. They've been asked to. More than once. And the City Council listens politely to the requests and then moves on to the next item in its Agenda. No discussion. No action. Nothing.
More than one person has told me that she hopes that, if she ever goes missing, it's not from Woodstock!
If this really is "just" a missing person case, then how about a police press conference periodically (there has never been even one) to give the public updates?
When you add up all the rumors and facts, it doesn't look like a missing person case. So, if it's not, then it's a criminal case. Have all Beth's and family's real estate transactions been scrutinized? Have tax liens been investigated? Isn't there a child-support action in the records? Is there any money missing - from anywhere? Where did the money come from for Beth to buy the car for Jenn's use? From her savings account? or from her purse? And the monthly rent on the house for Jenn?
Were those personal gifts from Beth or were they actually "pay" to Jenn for working in Scott's office? Did Jenn get a IRS Form 1099 that included those amounts?
What was the role, if any, of drugs in this disappearance? Early on, someone posted on the first Facebook page or on Websleuths.com that Beth had taken the train to Chicago to see a drug dealer. What? She was going to get off a train in downtown Chicago at 10:30PM on a Sunday night, dressed as she was, and go in search of a drug dealer? Give me a break!
Of course, she never took the train, so that couldn't be true.
But her circle of Woodstock friends includes some with involvement with drugs. What's that old phrase? Birds of a feather ... Did she or didn't she use? Somebody knows. Probably, more than somebody (one). Did she owe someone? Was she about to rat someone out?
Those could be reasons for someone to "disappear" - voluntarily or involuntarily.
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7 comments:
It is sad that Ms. Bentley's family isn't demanding that the Police Department do more.
I hope that if I ever disappear like this, my family fights the bureaucracy to get information, and also that the town I live in actually cares that I've disappeared!
"When her own family isn't standing in the Square, screaming for answers and justice, then the City should step up." Seriously?
I've put my faith in you as primary investigator and feel that any other efforts would be counter productive.
I live in Cincinnati, OH and I do an internet search for Beth's name every few days, praying that one day I'll find out that she has been found - Gus, you are the only person that reports on this case. Thank you for doing so.
I've gotten the impression from the beginning that your county's P.D. just does not care. Hopefully that impression is wrong. I also get the impression that half of the county's citizens could be at the doorstep of the P.D. every day, demanding answers and there wouldn't be any more action, information or anything more produced by the department. I remember when I first looked over the P.D.'s website, for info about Beth's case and it seemed like the press release or whatever it was, was buried - not easy to find and seemed to promote a story that was disproven, at least in part. It's a shame that the McHenry County Sheriff's Dept just really doesn't give a darn about the public's perception of this case, theoretically, how the public perceives this case could make a big difference. If the case appeared to be on the 'front burner' maybe some players would feel the heat and start talking. It seems so different from the norm that it makes one wonder about the possibility of collusion, really. So sad.
Christine, thanks for your comment from afar and for following this case.
The primary investigating agency is the city police department, Woodstock PD.
Our county law enforcement agency, the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, is not involved in this case; at least, any involvement by it has never been reported.
You are absolutely right about the location of the Missing Person flier on the Woodstock PD's webpages. It's buried, where no one will else see it.
Hi Christine, good to see your name and opinion again. We are on the same page. This case clearly is, for starters,about destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice. In my humble opinion it has moved far beyond the ability of the Woodstock PD to solve it! What will it take for a higher or different law enforcement agency to see what we all see and investigate anew?
NO ONE should be surprised by Woodstock PD's ineffectuality in this case. Hell, they don't even arrest people with warrants that are right under their nose. Example: There is a young man that has 3 warrants out at present, one for battery and 2 for failure to appear and even when the WPD have been called MANY times as to the where abouts of this person they dick around and do NOTHING! We were told last time we called by the dispatcher that no warrants are listed, though when an officer showed up an hour and a half later he said he DID show warrants but could do nothing. WHAT??????
We have totally given up on helping to get this person put where he belongs.
Maybe the family of Beth has had similar experiences and have given up also and I would not blame them. WPD is just plain worthless except to sit around at the Harley parking lot chit chatting with one another and writing the occasional ticket!
At least you all should have plenty of help packing up and leaving.
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