Police update on Beth Bentley case

Let's take a look at the July report of the Woodstock Police Department in the Beth Bentley missing-person case. Each month the P.D. informs the City Manager (and through him, the Mayor and the City Council) of its activity in this case. The July Report, included in the September 4, 2012, packet to the City Council read:

"The Woodstock Police Department continues to investigate and follow up on all leads in the investigation of the Endangered Missing Person Benedetta "Beth" Bentley. The Investigations Division maintains contact with the family of Benedetta Bentley, the Illinois State Police and all other Police Agencies involved in this case for updates and the sharing of intelligence/information."

Sound familiar? It should. The same two sentences appear month and month with only the slightest change. For example, previous reports have included "aggressively follow up". The July report does not. The detail is called "boilerplate". Using it month after month reflects poorly on both the sender and the recipient. It basically says, "Ain't nothin' happenin', boss."

The only nibble on the investigatory hook earlier this year was the arrest of Jennifer Wyatt on felony charges that were dismissed by a judge, before ever getting anywhere near a trial. The felony charges were embarrassingly thin and never should have been approved by the State's Attorney's Office in the first place. The P.D. didn't have even the slightest chance of proving them because they didn't meet the statute.

What would happen is MIAT were pulled into this case, even now? What if trained investigators from several law-enforcement agencies in McHenry County were assembled and started a new investigation from Day One? What's MIAT? Major Incident Assistance Team?

Is not the sudden disappearance of a 41-year-old mother, wife and employee a "major incident"? Especially when so many conflicting stories arose so quickly?

Any suggestions from readers about subjects or people for MIAT to put under the microscope?

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