Jeffrey Willis To Stand Trial In Kidnapping, Murder Of Jessica Heeringa

DETROIT (WWJ) - The man accused of kidnapping and murdering a 25-year-old woman three years ago will now stand trial.

Judge Raymond Kostrzewa decided Tuesday there is enough evidence to show that Jessica Heeringa is dead and to send the case on to trial.

Jeffrey Willis, 46, of Muskegon Township, will stand trial in connection with her kidnapping and murder.

"There were cleaning products including Tide with bleach and four Clorox bleach bottles, all dated with dated manufacture after the abduction of Jessica Heeringa," detailed Kostrzewa.

A break in the case came in May when Willis was arrested for attempting to abduct a 16-year-old girl. She managed to escape from his van. According to a detective's statement in the kidnapping case, investigators found a pistol, ammunition, syringes with liquid, a ball gag, chains, a mask and a bar with wrist restraints in Willis's van. Child pornography and videos of bound women were found in his home. Willis is also the suspect in another Muskegon area murder.

Kostrzewa says it wasn't one piece of evidence, but the totality of evidence that convinced him Willis should stand trial for the open murder and kidnapping Heeringa who disappeared from a Norton Shores gas station on April 26, 2013. Her body has never been found.