Arson/Murder. Three Years Later Kathy Blentlinger’s Case Still Unsolved

By ThinkGoat

Mt. Sterling, Illinois Some who’ve read this site over the past year may think I’ve got some kind of hard-on for Central Illinois police departments. While I understand the conclusion one would draw, I’m going to make it perfectly clear I adore the men and women in brown who actually work for the State, but as it’s turning out, those who wear blue are lacking training, resources, and basic common sense which ultimately ends in more victims than need-be. Small town departments are full with eager-minded individuals who don’t seem to possess any skills other than being able to write a traffic citation and who suffer from an over-abundance of ego. Small town departments need to use their ready-made resources (town gossip knowledge) to guide them in the right direction. Big cities’ departments don’t have that luxury. They actually have to find the pieces of the puzzle before they can attempt to put the shit together. Small town? The pieces are easily found. Let me give you an example:  Mt. Sterling, Illinois, population around 2,000, several suspicious fires, rumors of one person being present prior to the fires starting. One large house fire takes hold around 3:30am – so hot it melts the neighbor’s siding. One person dead. It takes 6 months for a coroner’s inquest to rule the death a homicide. 6 months of crucial time that could have been spent torturing interrogating, tailing, and arresting the person(s) for murder. In a small town, how is it that everyone knows but the ones who are actually responsible for making an arrest? Why is it coming up on three years that Kathy Blentlinger was killed and there’s been nothing more than lip-service?

Nearly three years ago, 34-year-old Kathy Blentlinger was spending the night alone as her 8-year-old son was visiting his father. Around 3:30 am a call was placed reporting a fire at her residence – a fire which claimed the life of this vivacious young mother. Upon first glance, it appeared to be a tragic accident and her death was not suspicious in nature. That is until the IL State Fire Marshal’s office came in and took a little look around. The fire was set in the opposite part of the house from her bedroom and started by an accelerate that makes for a pretty good fire…gasoline. People, if you’re going to play arsonist, be a little more clever in the ways you choose to start that fire. Gas is one of the easiest things to detect.

It took 6 months for Brown County to hold a Coroner’s Inquest. 6 months for that county to put into record Kathy died of smoke inhalation at the hand(s) of some cowardly fuck(s) who either had an ax to grind with her and/or a fascination with watching property go up in pretty multi-colored tongues of hot shit.

Investigating arson is difficult. Unless that person had been seen, left an abundance of clues that could be traced, had motive, and was being tracked by professionals who’re trained bloodhounds, it’s a hard road pinning the crime on them. But rumor has it, this wasn’t the first, second, or third suspicious fire plaguing this small community. Researching this case, anytime there is an article that allows comments, the same accusations are made. The locals seems to speculate on the same person – noting the propensity for flicking that Bic and having control issues. And in a town of 7,000, people notice everyone else’s dirty little habits. So why haven’t the police done anything?

According to Brown County’s State’s Attorney, Mark Vincent, “The investigators have continued to follow-up on leads and conducted dozens of interviews of family members of the deceased, family members of the persons of interest.” He continues with, “They’ve continued to follow-up on leads ever since, and the case certainly hasn’t gone cold as far as they’re concerned, or me.” Listen up Mark, it’s been almost 3 years since Ms. Blentlinger was murdered. There’s been no arrest. This case has gone cold.

Looks do not trump brains, especially when you’re dealing with someone who will be responsible with prosecuting the case once this murder gets solved. Take a look at Mr. Vincent. The succession of stills were taken over a 3 second section of video I observed. This succinct State’s Attorney, when asked if he thought this murder would ever be solved, takes a deep breath and grins for the camera then states, “It’s hard to say. I think there is a lot of evidence, but one of the things we have to consider as prosecutors is, a lot of the evidence we have may not be admissible in the criminal trial, and whether it’s solved or whether there’s a conviction are two different things, I think, in the opinion of those who know the facts. So, that’s a difficult question.” It’s only a difficult question when asked to a bunch of stagnant pin-heads who’re ill-equipped to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Vincent further states to the reporter that his office has been “in contact with Blentlinger’s family on a fairly regular basis”. He states “it’s extremely important to them to proceed with the case if and whenever possible”. See? With that kind of deep thinking, it’s a wonder this case wasn’t solved when he took office a couple of years ago. Dipshit.

On an extremely serious note, I’m not sure these bumbling idiots understand what a murder is. It’s not something to be smiling about when speculating on whether this case is going to be solved, it’s something that requires constant attention, constant follow-ups, and constant intense interrogations until enough information is divulged for a Grand Jury to indict. I can pretty much guarantee not a day goes by for Kathy’s family and friends where they don’t think about her murder. And a young man of around 11 years has too many questions about the set of circumstances that led to the death of his mother. The death that has gone unpunished by the very system that’s funded by taxpayers, the system that’s suppose to work, not give answers like, ” It’s hard to say.”

Get off your pleather chair, Mark. You’re not going to be able to piece together a case by looking at your pretty handwriting in the file and flashing those pearly whites. Direct the police department on exactly what you need for a conviction and make them fucking do their jobs as well. And for those of you who find yourselves paying taxes in that small part of West-Central Illinois, you need to start yelling and screaming about the ineffectiveness of the authorities. They have a lot of evidence. Make them earn their paycheck and learn how to turn that evidence into a solid conviction.

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