Convicted murderer Jeffrey Willis left his sentencing hearing today in dramatic fashion.
After telling the judge he had no desire to be present for the decision, Willis was allowed to pack up his courtroom documents and leave. As he exited the courtroom clutching a large manilla envelope, Willis turned to the gallery and mouthed out an audible kiss.
Onlookers murmured, gasped and someone exclaimed, “He blew a kiss!”
In November, Willis was found guilty of the murder of Rebekah Bletsch on June 29, 2014. Bletsch’s body was discovered on the side of the road by a couple who believed she had been the victim of a hit-and-run incident. When the couple attempted to resuscitate her, however, they realized Bletsch had multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Nearly two years later, Willis was connected to Bletsch’s death–and the death of another woman, Jessica Heeringa–after a third alleged victim told police she escaped from what turned out to be Willis’ van.
The sentencing hearing is presently ongoing.
As Willis left the courtroom today, after blowing his kiss, Bletsch’s family members shouted at the convicted murderer, calling him a “coward.”
[image via Joel Bissell | Mlive]
Follow Colin Kalmbacher on Twitter: @colinkalmbacher