Post by Graveyardbride on Sept 10, 2014 11:07:35 GMT -5
1974 Murder of Atkinson Teen Remains Unsolved
ATKINSON, Ill. – After four decades, there is still hope for new leads in an unsolved murder in Henry County, Illinois. Tuesday marked the 40th anniversary of the murder of Mary Ann Becker of Atkinson. The quiet, 16-year-old high school honors student was found dead inside her home on September 9, 1974. Mary Ann, 16, was strangled to death during the evening hours of Tuesday, September 9, 1974. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Becker, Jr.
According to a 1974 Geneseo Republic article, Mary Ann’s body was found by Mrs. Becker when she returned at approximately 11 p.m. from the Gulf Plaza, a restaurant on Interstate 80. According to the article, “Miss Becker was tied to a piano with an electric cord and rope which was also wrapped around her neck and which apparently caused the death by strangulation. The living room in which she was found was in slight disarray, according to authorities. A piano stool had been overturned and sheet music scattered about.”
At the time, there were speculations as to who the killer might have been, ranging from acquaintances to someone who might have gone to the home from Interstate 80. The Republic reported, “Most of the residents of the area feel that it must have been a person who knew the habits and whereabouts of the Becker family. Mr. Becker had just returned to work at the Midland Coal Co. after a sick leave of two weeks. It raised the question that it was more than a coincidence that the fatal attack occurred the very evening after he had returned to work and the mother also was at work at the Gulf Plaza restaurant.” It was also revealed that “during the last two weeks (prior to the murder), phone calls had been received at the Becker home inquiring if Mr. and Mrs. Becker were at home.”
Around 6 p.m. on the evening of September 9, four of Mary Ann’s friends stopped to visit with her and plan a trip to Western Illinois University on September 20. They stayed for about an hour and then left. “Miss Becker told them she planned to study and then retire for the night. She was an ‘A’ student at Atkinson High School and a senior,” The Republic reported. Mary Ann had been active in school events at Atkinson High School and had served as president of her junior class. Donald Dolieslager, who was the Atkinson School District superintendent at the time, said, Mary Ann was a “shy and quiet type of girl.”
Numerous agencies, including the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police, Illinois State Crime Laboratory and the Atkinson Police Department worked on the initial investigation, but the case has remained unsolved.
The Henry County Crime Stoppers program announced it is now offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. In a news release, the organization says it “hopes the reward will bring closure to the unsolved murder.” The reward is on top of the $1,000 reward already being offered by Crime Stoppers.
Illinois State Police and local agencies are still actively investigating Mary Ann's death. Anyone with information is asked to Call Henry County Crime Stoppers at 800-227-2324.
Sources: KWQC News and The Kewanee Star Courier.