Convicted murderer Jeffrey Willis was transported to prison today. And on the way there he was forced to listen to victim-impact statements made by the family members of the woman he killed.
Williams had previously opted out of hearing such statements by skipping most of his sentencing hearing on December 18 earlier this week. Relatives of Rebekah Bletsch, who was murdered by Williams in 2014, spoke at that sentencing hearing despite Williams’ absence–and Muskegon County Sheriff Michael Poulin made a CD recording of their words.
As deputies drove Willis 145 miles to his new accommodations at a state prison, that CD was played five times over.
Sheriff Poulin told media outlets that it’s important Bletch’s family knows Willis heard what they said. Willis controversially left the courtroom before those statements were made on Monday by blowing a kiss to the victim’s family, who shouted out at him in response.
In November, Willis was found guilty of the June 29, 2014 murder of Rebekah Bletsch, who disappeared while jogging.
Willis is currently awaiting trial for the disappearance and murder of Jessica Heeringa, a gas station attendant who went missing on April 26, 2013.
[image via screengrab]
Follow Colin Kalmbacher on Twitter: @colinkalmbacher
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