Joretha Hampton, of Kankakee, looks out the window last week as she listens to an update from Kankakee Police Sgt. Logan Andersen on the recently reopened case of her missing mother, Jannette Johnson, of Kankakee. READ MORE.
A portrait of Jannette Johnson is surrounded by “Missing Person” fliers and newspaper clippings. Johnson went missing without a trace 36 years ago in August 1985. Daughter Joretha Hampton was just 11 years old and her brother, Jerry Wills, was 13.
Joretha (Wills) Hampton, then 41, of Kankakee, stands at the backyard gate looking down the alley behind her grandmother Mary Moore’s home in July 2015 on the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of her mother, Jannette Johnson.
In July 2015, Joretha Wills, now Joretha Hampton, of Kankakee, bends to touch her forehead to her late grandmother Mary Moore’s forehead as they observed the 30th anniversary of Wills’ mother and Moore’s daughter, Jannette Johnson, going missing that summer without a trace from her East Oak Street home.
Joretha Hampton, of Kankakee, looks out the window last week as she listens to an update from Kankakee Police Sgt. Logan Andersen on the recently reopened case of her missing mother, Jannette Johnson, of Kankakee. READ MORE.
A portrait of Jannette Johnson is surrounded by “Missing Person” fliers and newspaper clippings. Johnson went missing without a trace 36 years ago in August 1985. Daughter Joretha Hampton was just 11 years old and her brother, Jerry Wills, was 13.
Daily Journal/Tiffany Blanchette
Joretha (Wills) Hampton, then 41, of Kankakee, stands at the backyard gate looking down the alley behind her grandmother Mary Moore’s home in July 2015 on the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of her mother, Jannette Johnson.
Tiffany Blanchette
In July 2015, Joretha Wills, now Joretha Hampton, of Kankakee, bends to touch her forehead to her late grandmother Mary Moore’s forehead as they observed the 30th anniversary of Wills’ mother and Moore’s daughter, Jannette Johnson, going missing that summer without a trace from her East Oak Street home.
KANKAKEE — A missing person case dating back to August 1985 has now become a homicide investigation, according to the Kankakee Police Department.
In a news release issued Wednesday, police said remains of a woman found in eastern Kankakee County many years ago were identified using DNA from family members in November 2020 as being those of Jannette Johnson.
Johnson, a 29-year-old mother of two and Kankakee resident, was reported missing on Aug. 3, 1985, by her family.
On the evening of Aug. 2, Johnson’s family members saw her pull in and park in the rear of her residence, according to the news release. The following morning her vehicle was located in front of the residence on the street, witnesses said.
A window was partially rolled down, her purse and other personal items were inside, but Johnson was missing, police and witnesses reported. There have been no suspects identified in her disappearance, according to police.
Kankakee police are now seeking any information from anyone in the community who over the years may have heard rumors or have firsthand knowledge of Johnson’s disappearance and death.
“It is our hope that someone in the community will come forward after all these years with information that allows us to close this tragic case,” the release said.
A phone call
Johnson’s daughter, Joretha (Wills) Hampton said Kankakee Police Detective Logan Andersen contacted her last November regarding her mother’s case. It was then that she learned the remains found in late 1985 in eastern Kankakee County were indeed those of her mother.
“Detective Anderson called and said he wanted to talk to my grandmother [Mary Moore] and me,” Hampton said Wednesday during an interview. “He said he wanted to sit down and talk.”
Hampton said it took a few days to collect herself and start contacting family members, including Moore and Hampton’s brother Jerry Wills Jr.
Johnson was back in the area again recently to meet with Kankakee Police Sgt. Logan Andersen.
As part of the re-opening of the investigation, KPD will be coordinating with the Missing Persons Awareness Network and Johnson’s family and friends to conduct a thorough search of the area where Johnson’s remains were recovered. The search is planned to take place in late September.
According to Wednesday’s press release from police, family members, friends and witnesses have been located and re-interviewed over the past nine months.
Investigators have had many leads over the years as to a possible reason for Johnson’s disappearance but none have provided enough information to make an arrest, according to the release. Kankakee Police Chief Robin Passwater said he would not comment further on the case at this time.
Not giving up
Moore died in February. Three days before she passed, Hampton talked with her regarding the continued search for answers in Johnson’s death.
“She said she was at peace and that God chose me to take this to the end,” Hampton said.
Jeff Bonty is a reporter for The Daily Journal. He can be reached at jbonty@daily-journal.com and 815-937-3366.
Jeff Bonty has worked for The Daily Journal since September 1986, starting in the sports department before moving to news reporting in 2002. He's a native of Indiana and graduate of Purdue University. His email is jbonty@daily-journal.com.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.