Dardeen Family Homicides
Unsolved Quadruple Homicide
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Ina, Illinois
TIME PERIOD
November 17-18, 1987
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
On November 18, 1987, police discovered the bodies of Russell Keith Dardeen, 29, his wife Ruby Elaine, 30, and their son Peter, 2, in their mobile home in Ina, Illinois, after Keith failed to report to work. The family had been brutally beaten, with Ruby going into labor due to the violence, and the newborn girl subsequently found dead. Keith's body was later located in a nearby field, having been shot and mutilated. Initial investigations focused on Keith as a suspect, but he was later ruled out. The case remained unsolved for decades until serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells claimed responsibility in the 2000s; however, he was never charged due to doubts about his confession and his inability to assist in the investigation. The case remains cold with no definitive leads or suspects identified.
The Dardeen family homicides are believed by some to be the work of Satanists, contributing to a climate of fear in the community. Initially, investigators viewed Russell Dardeen as a prime suspect, but after his body was discovered, theories shifted towards the possibility of an external perpetrator. Additionally, the brutal nature of the killings led to speculation that they could be connected to a series of other local murders occurring around the same time.
The Dardeen Family Tragedy
Prelude to Horror
In the quiet community of Ina, Illinois, where tranquility once reigned, the evening of November 18, 1987, would mark a devastating transformation. It was on this night that the police were summoned to the mobile home of Russell Keith Dardeen, a 29-year-old treatment plant operator, and his family. Keith, a man known for his reliability, had not shown up for work that day, an absence that set off a chain of events leading to a gruesome discovery.
Inside the modest home, the lifeless bodies of Keith's 30-year-old wife, Ruby Elaine Dardeen, and their 2-year-old son, Peter, lay battered beyond recognition. Elaine, pregnant with their second child, had been beaten so severely that she went into labor. Tragically, the newborn, delivered amidst the violence, was also killed.
The Crime Scene
The horror, thought to have unfolded on November 17, extended beyond the brutal deaths of Elaine and her children. Initially, investigators suspected Keith himself. However, the next day, hunters stumbled upon his body in a nearby wheat field. Keith's corpse bore the marks of a violent end—shot multiple times and mutilated. His red 1981 Plymouth was found abandoned near the police station in Benton, its interior stained with blood, indicating his murder had occurred close to the time of his family's slaughter.
A Community in Fear
The Dardeen family massacre sent shockwaves through Jefferson and Franklin counties, areas already on edge due to a recent spate of murders. The brutality of the crime, combined with the lack of a clear motive or suspect, led to rampant fear and speculation. Residents armed themselves, and rumors swirled—whispers of Satanic rituals and serial killers filled the air, further fueled by the gruesome nature of the act. Despite these fears, police ruled out Satanic involvement, as well as motives tied to drugs, infidelity, or robbery.
The Investigation Begins
With local authorities stymied, the investigation expanded to include the Illinois State Police. Thirty detectives dedicated themselves to the case, interviewing over a hundred people. Yet, their efforts yielded no viable suspects. A man briefly detained was released, and a coworker of Keith's, initially suspected due to a dispute, was cleared. The Dardeens, known for their upright lives, left no apparent clues to their murderer's identity.
Forensic evidence offered little clarity. The coroner's findings suggested that all family members died within an hour of each other, complicating theories about the sequence of events. Despite the meticulous arrangement of the bodies and the apparent cleanup of the scene, no motive emerged—no sign of robbery, no evidence of forced entry, and no indication of sexual assault.
A Town Frozen in Fear
The community's response to the murders was one of palpable fear. Residents altered their routines, with shotguns visible in vehicles and social activities curtailed. Contradictory police reports and rampant rumors only deepened the anxiety, with tales of Satanic sacrifices and serial killers gaining traction despite official denials.
The Search for Answers
As the investigation stalled, the Dardeen family's murders seemed destined to remain unsolved. Joeann Dardeen, Keith's mother, tirelessly sought justice, engaging with media and law enforcement to keep the case alive. Her efforts included petitioning "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "America's Most Wanted," though neither led to new breakthroughs.
In the late 1990s, as serial killers like Ángel Maturino Reséndiz and Tommy Lynn Sells were captured, hopes briefly revived. Reséndiz, a drifter known for train-hopping and beating victims, was never conclusively linked to the Dardeens’ deaths. Sells, however, confessed to the crime amidst a slew of admissions, though his extensive history of false confessions and the refusal of Texas authorities to allow his transfer to Illinois left his claims unproven.
The Unanswered Questions
The Dardeen family homicides remain an enigma, a chilling reminder of how darkness can descend on the most unsuspecting of places. The unanswered questions about motive, the identity of the killer, and the horrific details of that November night continue to haunt the community. Despite the passage of time, the case endures, a cold yet burning mystery, crying out for resolution in the quiet fields of rural Illinois.
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Discovery of Dardeen Family Bodies
Police find the bodies of Elaine, Peter, and a newborn in their mobile home, all brutally beaten.
Keith Dardeen Found Dead
Keith Dardeen's body is discovered in a nearby field, shot and mutilated.
Investigation Launched
Local police and Illinois State Police form a task force to investigate the quadruple homicide.
Tommy Lynn Sells Identified
Serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells claims responsibility for the Dardeen family murders while on death row.
Sells Executed
Tommy Lynn Sells is executed in Texas, leaving the Dardeen case unresolved.
Dardeen Case Remains Cold
Authorities express doubts about Sells' confession, and the case remains unsolved.
On November 18, 1987, police discovered the bodies of Russell Keith Dardeen, 29, his wife Ruby Elaine, 30, and their son Peter, 2, in their mobile home in Ina, Illinois, after Keith failed to report to work. The family had been brutally beaten, with Ruby going into labor due to the violence, and the newborn girl subsequently found dead. Keith's body was later located in a nearby field, having been shot and mutilated. Initial investigations focused on Keith as a suspect, but he was later ruled out. The case remained unsolved for decades until serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells claimed responsibility in the 2000s; however, he was never charged due to doubts about his confession and his inability to assist in the investigation. The case remains cold with no definitive leads or suspects identified.
The Dardeen family homicides are believed by some to be the work of Satanists, contributing to a climate of fear in the community. Initially, investigators viewed Russell Dardeen as a prime suspect, but after his body was discovered, theories shifted towards the possibility of an external perpetrator. Additionally, the brutal nature of the killings led to speculation that they could be connected to a series of other local murders occurring around the same time.
The Dardeen Family Tragedy
Prelude to Horror
In the quiet community of Ina, Illinois, where tranquility once reigned, the evening of November 18, 1987, would mark a devastating transformation. It was on this night that the police were summoned to the mobile home of Russell Keith Dardeen, a 29-year-old treatment plant operator, and his family. Keith, a man known for his reliability, had not shown up for work that day, an absence that set off a chain of events leading to a gruesome discovery.
Inside the modest home, the lifeless bodies of Keith's 30-year-old wife, Ruby Elaine Dardeen, and their 2-year-old son, Peter, lay battered beyond recognition. Elaine, pregnant with their second child, had been beaten so severely that she went into labor. Tragically, the newborn, delivered amidst the violence, was also killed.
The Crime Scene
The horror, thought to have unfolded on November 17, extended beyond the brutal deaths of Elaine and her children. Initially, investigators suspected Keith himself. However, the next day, hunters stumbled upon his body in a nearby wheat field. Keith's corpse bore the marks of a violent end—shot multiple times and mutilated. His red 1981 Plymouth was found abandoned near the police station in Benton, its interior stained with blood, indicating his murder had occurred close to the time of his family's slaughter.
A Community in Fear
The Dardeen family massacre sent shockwaves through Jefferson and Franklin counties, areas already on edge due to a recent spate of murders. The brutality of the crime, combined with the lack of a clear motive or suspect, led to rampant fear and speculation. Residents armed themselves, and rumors swirled—whispers of Satanic rituals and serial killers filled the air, further fueled by the gruesome nature of the act. Despite these fears, police ruled out Satanic involvement, as well as motives tied to drugs, infidelity, or robbery.
The Investigation Begins
With local authorities stymied, the investigation expanded to include the Illinois State Police. Thirty detectives dedicated themselves to the case, interviewing over a hundred people. Yet, their efforts yielded no viable suspects. A man briefly detained was released, and a coworker of Keith's, initially suspected due to a dispute, was cleared. The Dardeens, known for their upright lives, left no apparent clues to their murderer's identity.
Forensic evidence offered little clarity. The coroner's findings suggested that all family members died within an hour of each other, complicating theories about the sequence of events. Despite the meticulous arrangement of the bodies and the apparent cleanup of the scene, no motive emerged—no sign of robbery, no evidence of forced entry, and no indication of sexual assault.
A Town Frozen in Fear
The community's response to the murders was one of palpable fear. Residents altered their routines, with shotguns visible in vehicles and social activities curtailed. Contradictory police reports and rampant rumors only deepened the anxiety, with tales of Satanic sacrifices and serial killers gaining traction despite official denials.
The Search for Answers
As the investigation stalled, the Dardeen family's murders seemed destined to remain unsolved. Joeann Dardeen, Keith's mother, tirelessly sought justice, engaging with media and law enforcement to keep the case alive. Her efforts included petitioning "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "America's Most Wanted," though neither led to new breakthroughs.
In the late 1990s, as serial killers like Ángel Maturino Reséndiz and Tommy Lynn Sells were captured, hopes briefly revived. Reséndiz, a drifter known for train-hopping and beating victims, was never conclusively linked to the Dardeens’ deaths. Sells, however, confessed to the crime amidst a slew of admissions, though his extensive history of false confessions and the refusal of Texas authorities to allow his transfer to Illinois left his claims unproven.
The Unanswered Questions
The Dardeen family homicides remain an enigma, a chilling reminder of how darkness can descend on the most unsuspecting of places. The unanswered questions about motive, the identity of the killer, and the horrific details of that November night continue to haunt the community. Despite the passage of time, the case endures, a cold yet burning mystery, crying out for resolution in the quiet fields of rural Illinois.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Discovery of Dardeen Family Bodies
Police find the bodies of Elaine, Peter, and a newborn in their mobile home, all brutally beaten.
Keith Dardeen Found Dead
Keith Dardeen's body is discovered in a nearby field, shot and mutilated.
Investigation Launched
Local police and Illinois State Police form a task force to investigate the quadruple homicide.
Tommy Lynn Sells Identified
Serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells claims responsibility for the Dardeen family murders while on death row.
Sells Executed
Tommy Lynn Sells is executed in Texas, leaving the Dardeen case unresolved.
Dardeen Case Remains Cold
Authorities express doubts about Sells' confession, and the case remains unsolved.