Update – February 26, 2020
My family and some special guests gathered tonight for a memorial dinner on the 50th anniversary of Donna’s murder. It was a great time to catch up, share stories, and especially, an opportunity to hopefully create some good memories of this date for future years.
I wrote a speech (read it here) to thank everyone for coming, and to express some unspoken things to my family. The evening was such a blessing.
Update – February 26, 2015
Update – October 13, 2014
There was a sudden change of events last week. The finality is overwhelming at the moment (story here). Being able to share this news with everyone and get this, or any, conclusion after almost 45 years of waiting and wondering…we are grateful, thankful, heartbroken, blessed, humbled, amazed…there are no completely adequate words.
Update – May 29, 2014
The next trial date is scheduled for November 3rd. Please pray for our family as we continue to endure and await this trial, which we have always believed could not possibly happen.
Knowing that there are so many people out there thinking of us, praying for us, and sharing memories of Donna with us has been a miraculous, life-changing experience.
Update – January 7, 2014
The trial has been postponed to a future date in 2014. Your prayers are always very much appreciated.
Update – November 24, 2012
The events of this past week (story here) have touched so many lives besides our own. Our family is grateful that we are able to share this news with past classmates, neighbors, friends and family around the country. Thank you for your comments, prayers, and most of all, for never forgetting Donna.
Update – November 5, 2012
Suspect named. It won’t be long now until everything comes out that our family has waited so long to hear. Story here. God bless everyone for your thoughts, emails, and prayers. They mean so much to us all.
Update – February 26, 2012
Today, the 42nd anniversary of Donna’s murder, I want to express my deep gratitude to God for leading me to Mr. and Mrs. Steele recently and having had the pleasure of speaking with them on the phone. Mr. Steele, thank you for not leaving Donna. Somehow, I’ve always known that you didn’t. For that reason, you will always be a true-life hero to me, the only one I’ve ever known. ~ Virginia
Update – November 2011
We are continually thankful to the Milwaukee Police Department’s Cold Case Unit for their continuous support and updates. Donna’s murderer will be imprisoned for the rest of his life and just knowing that, and who it is, is the best that we could have hoped for after all these years. We now wait for the case to be officially closed and maybe that will suffice for now.
Update – June 2010
Now that we know the “who”, the “why”, the “where” and “how”, all we can do is wait for this man’s death, and for God’s judgment. He will, fortunately, remain in prison until then.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'” ~ Matthew 5:21
Update – March 2010
February 26th was the 40th anniversary of Donna’s murder. We have some answers, but must still be patient and wait for further resolution.
Update – April 26, 2009
With great sadness, we share with you that our mother, Ruth Willing, passed away this evening, only about a month after the newspaper article was published and so many, many, many people shared their thoughts, feelings and memories of Donna with us. I printed out pages and pages of your comments from our Guestbook for her each day, and she very much appreciated them all and, like the rest of the family, was stunned and shocked that so many people remembered Donna after all these years and were affected by her death — and still have feelings about it from your childhoods. You don’t know how much this means to us all, and we thank each and every one of you for writing.
We think of you every day, Donna…
