Post by Scumhunter on Aug 9, 2016 4:23:40 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: Bonnie's Blog of Crime)
From the Springfield (Illinois) State-Journal Register website:
Monday marks the 13th anniversary of the unsolved murders of Shameka Wright and Jared Womack.
Wright, 23, and Womack, 22, both of Springfield, were shot multiple times inside a home at 1315 E. Cook St. on the night of Aug. 1, 2003.
The double murder is the sixth installment of a Crime Stoppers of Sangamon and Menard Counties program that offers an enhanced reward of $5,000 for tips in some unsolved homicides that ultimately leads to an arrest.
Springfield police Detective Timothy Zajicek said Wednesday he believes there is someone out there who has information that could lead to a break in the case.
“The persons responsible for this have ties to the community still,” he said. “There are people who know who they are and have information that could aid us in solving the case.”
Unintended targets
Wright and her two children were watching the house while the owner was on vacation.
Womack was supposed to be working at Steak ‘n Shake but was sent home because the restaurant was overstaffed, police said. He went home and then later left to see Wright.
About 9:15 p.m., police believe at least two people with guns entered the home. The intruders opened fire on Wright as she sat in the living room.
Womack ran to the bathroom and tried to hide but was shot when he looked out the door to see if the intruders were still there, Springfield police told The State Journal-Register in 2004.
Police said at the time that the motive of the intruders was robbery and that the gunmen weren’t seeking Wright or Womack. Zajicek said police still believe that’s the case.
“I think they were at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. “They weren’t part of anything that would have led to this.”
Police were notified of the shooting by a hysterical child who said her mom had been shot. A few minutes later, a second call came in from an adult male requesting an ambulance because a girl had been shot.
The dispatcher attempted to get a name of the caller, but he said, “The paramedics are here” and then hung up.
Seeking new leads
Police in 2004 said they had three suspects in the murders of Wright and Womack.
Zajicek, who’s been a detective for 1 1/2 years, didn’t get into specifics, but said some people have been eliminated as suspects, but not all.
“We’re continuing to work those angles,” he said.
Mike Badger, a Springfield police officer and coordinator of Crime Stoppers, said he hopes the extra attention the case is receiving might convince someone new to step forward. Even if someone thinks their information is not important, police want to talk to them, he said.
Anyone with information can leave a tip on the Crime Stopper tipline at 788-8427, or on the website at cashfortips.us, or by text using the keyword TIP672 followed by the tip information, which should then be sent to CRIMES (2-7-4-6-3-7).
All anonymous information must be submitted to Crime Stoppers before Sept. 30 to be eligible for the enhanced reward of $5,000. After that, the reward for tips leading to arrests in this and other homicides will revert to the $1,000 maximum.
www.sj-r.com/news/20160727/aug-1-2003-double-murder-still-unsolved/?Start=2
Thoughts?
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