Dardeen family homicides

Dardeen Family Homicides

The Dardeen Family Homicides refer to a gruesome quadruple murder that occurred in Ina, Jefferson County, Illinois, in November 1987. The victims were Russell Keith Dardeen, his wife Ruby Elaine Dardeen, their three-year-old son Peter, and their newborn daughter, who was delivered posthumously during the attack on her mother and died shortly after. The case has remained unsolved, casting a long shadow over the small community of Ina and attracting attention from both the media and law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Background

Russell Keith Dardeen and Ruby Elaine Dardeen were a young couple living in a mobile home in Ina, a small town in southern Illinois. Keith worked at a local water treatment plant, while Elaine was a homemaker. The couple was known to be expecting their second child in November 1987, eagerly anticipating the arrival of a new member to their family.

Murders

On the evening of November 18, 1987, Keith Dardeen did not arrive home from work, prompting concern from his family. The following day, authorities were alerted and a search began. The bodies of Elaine, Peter, and the newborn baby girl were found inside the family's mobile home. Elaine had been beaten and shot, and it appeared she had given birth during the attack. The newborn was also beaten to death. Peter had suffered from severe blunt force trauma. Keith's body was discovered the next day in a nearby field; he had been shot three times and his genitals mutilated.

Investigation

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, along with the Illinois State Police, launched an extensive investigation into the murders. Despite interviewing numerous suspects and following up on various leads, no arrests were made. The brutality of the murders and the lack of a clear motive puzzled investigators. Over the years, several theories have been proposed, including a possible connection to serial killers operating in the area at the time, but none have been definitively proven.

Impact

The Dardeen family homicides have had a profound impact on the community of Ina and the surrounding areas. The brutality of the murders and the fact that they remain unsolved have left a lasting mark on local residents. The case has been featured in various media outlets and true crime shows, keeping the story alive in the public consciousness and hoping to generate new leads.

See Also

• List of unsolved murders
• Crime in Illinois