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Opening statements to begin in Willis’ Heeringa murder trial

Posted at 5:21 AM, May 08, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-08 11:17:49-04

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Opening statements are expected to begin Tuesday in the trial against Jeffrey Willis in the alleged murder of Jessica Heeringa.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys came to an agreement on jurors on Friday, according to Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson.  The court took four days to find the jurors.

Willis is on trial for the murder of Jessica Heeringa, who disappeared from a Norton Shores gas station where she worked in April of 2013.  She has not been seen since.

Willis, now 48, is already serving a life sentence for the 2014 murder of Rebekah Bletsch and is awaiting trial for an abduction of a teen in 2016.  He was arrested after the abduction in 2016 and that arrest led to charges in the Bletsch and Heeringa cases.

Our Nicole Didonato and Dana Chicklas will continue to bring you updates from court throughout the week.  The trial is expected to last about two weeks.