ABC 20/20 “The Murderer in the Minivan” February 2 2024 Recap & Preview
20/20 presents “The Murderer in the Minivan,” a gripping true-crime event that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. This all-new episode is set to premiere on Friday night, January 31, 2024, at 9/8c on ABC.
The episode delves into the haunting case of Jessica Lynn Heeringa, a 25-year-old woman who vanished without a trace from her late-night shift at an Exxon gas station in Norton Shores, Michigan, on April 26, 2013. What followed was a mysterious and complex investigation that shook the community to its core.
At the scene of the apparent abduction, investigators discovered Heeringa’s car and jacket, along with her cigarettes and purse containing a substantial amount of money. Drops of blood near the gas station were analyzed and positively matched to Heeringa through DNA testing. Additionally, firearm parts were found in close proximity to the bloodstains, adding to the intrigue of the case.
Over the next three and a half years, a massive task force, comprising 75 members from 15 different local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, dedicated over 12,000 man-hours to this extensive investigation. They pursued over 1,400 tips, executed 33 search warrants, conducted 20 residential searches with consent, and carried out 12 ground and two underwater searches, all in their relentless quest for answers.
Although Jessica Heeringa’s remains were never recovered, the case took a dramatic turn when two male cousins became suspects and faced charges related to her disappearance. In September 2016, Jeffrey Willis, a resident of Muskegon Township, Michigan, was charged with the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa based on forensic evidence and eyewitness testimony. Willis was subsequently found guilty of her kidnapping and murder on May 16, 2018, receiving a life sentence in prison.
The episode also explores Willis’s connection to another heinous crime—the murder of Rebekah Sue Bletsch in 2014. Shell casings found near Bletsch’s body matched a gun found in Willis’s possession, leading to his conviction for her murder and a life sentence without parole.
Furthermore, Willis faced additional charges, including the attempted kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl in 2016 and child pornography related to two underage girls in 2011. These crimes painted a disturbing picture of his predatory behavior.
In a surprising turn of events, Jeffrey Willis’s cousin, Kevin Bluhm, pleaded guilty to lying to detectives during the Heeringa investigation and was also implicated as an accessory after the fact in disposing of Heeringa’s body. Bluhm received a sentence of time served and five years’ probation, along with the requirement to wear a GPS tether.
“The Murderer in the Minivan” sheds light on this perplexing case, relying on eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and the relentless pursuit of justice. It is a harrowing tale of a community’s resilience and determination to bring a dangerous predator to justice.
Don’t miss the premiere of this riveting 20/20 true-crime event on January 31, 2024, at 9/8c, only on ABC.
