REGGIE’S STYLE EVOLVES REDBIRD SOFTBALL NAMED THROUGH THE DECADES MVC CO-CHAMPIONS FEATURES 6
SPORTS 8
videtteonline
MONDAY, MAY 8, 2017
Vol. 129 / No. 62
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSIT Y’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888
Cold case warms up after 16 years One student’s assignment brings together various community members looking for answers in an unsolved homicide from 1975 involving a former Illinois State University senior STORY BY EMA SASIC AND KEVIN SCHWALLER | News Editor and Senior News Reporter | @ema_sasic and @kevschwa
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t has been decades since a homicide involving a former student at Illinois State University, but one sociology major allowed his curiosity to spark a new interest in the unsolved case. “I initially became ‘involved’ with the case one night while doing some research for an assignment I had in a class involving law enforcement in Illinois,” senior James Doughty said. “I stumbled upon Carol Rofstad’s case after doing some, admittedly, unfocused searching about cold cases in Illinois. Hers happened to be the oldest cold case in the state, and it took place right in Normal.” On Dec. 23, 1975, Rofstad, 21, of Elk Grove Village, was found beaten unconscious outside of her Delta Zeta sorority house, then located at 602 S. Fell St. She was discovered around noon, about 12 hours after the attack, according to the Illinois State Police’s website. An 18-inch piece of railroad tie was found nearby, according to the Chicago Tribune. Carol Rofstad She was taken to St. Francis Hospital Medical Center in Peoria, but she died Christmas Eve due to head injuries. Prior to the incident, two white men, aged 18 to 25, were seen between 10 and 10:15 p.m. Dec. 22 around the Delta Zeta sorority house, according to the Illinois State Police. One was carrying a club. Police charged a man with a history of
mental illness who confessed to the crime. However, he took back the claim and the charges were dropped, as the Chicago Tribune reported. Most students left campus at the time of the attack due to winter break. Instead of returning home to Elk Grove Village, Rofstad stayed in town to work at the former Hecht’s Women’s Apparel in Normal. Money was found in her purse and there was no evidence of sexual assault. Doughty’s class assignment was to create a discussion about police involvement in every day life and the role law enforcement play in communities. Though the project ended, Doughty was engrossed in the details of Rofstad’s story, so much so that “even after I had turned off my computer and crawled into bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.” He initially had no intentions of getting as involved as he did. However, his curiosity got the best of him. “I started to think, ‘I wonder what I could do to find out more,’” Doughty said. “A thought that was immediately followed up with, ‘I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing or how I would go about doing any more in-depth research, or what that would involve.’” “However, that in and of itself to me was part of the intrigue. I had no idea how to go about learning anything more going forward, and that made me want to try even more,” he said. Doughty found himself going to the library and researching details around the time of Rofstad’s death. He looked at
Kevin Schwaller | Senior News Reporter
Senior sociology major James Doughty began looking up information on a cold case involving a former ISU student this semester as part of an assignment. police and civilian theories, contacted various sources to help him develop his own theory, did a walk through of all the places in Normal Rofstad was seen the night of her death and read books about cold cases. He even contacted women in Delta Zeta for more information. At the time of the attack, two women were in the sorority house, according to the Illinois State Police. However, they reportedly
did not see or hear anything unusual. “I didn’t have any direction, I didn’t have a plan, and I didn’t have an end game,” he said. “I was just interested.” Through gathering information of his own and calling various sources in the community, Doughty was put in contact with someone who knew Rofstad. see CASE page 3
Normal mayor discovery recount to begin Tuesday DYLAN STEVENS News Reporter | @dkstevens12
The recent mayoral race for the Town of Normal was a close call up until final results were announced, but one of the candidates is seeking a recount. A discovery recount begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday in the Government Center. Current Mayor Chris Koos leads by only 11 votes over Bloomington High School science teacher Marc Tiritilli. Tiritilli has selected seven Normal precincts to be examined because he claimed there were almost 100 under or over votes, which could have or have not been counted due to several factors. When an election is very close, campaigns can ask first for a discovery recount, which the Tiritilli campaign did by filing a petition form at the Government Center last week. Then, af ter the discover y recount, they can decide whether they want to go to the Circuit
Natalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photographer
County Clerk Kathy Michael will perform the discovery recount that candidate Marc Tiritilli requested. Mayor Chris Koos is mayor as of now. Court to present their case asking for a full recount. Estimates are often between $10,000 and $20,000. County Clerk Kathy Michael, who has been in her office for
seven years, was determined to set aside time for an official recount. This was exciting for her and those in her office because the County Clerk has not been through a discovery recount yet.
This will be a new experience for them and they look forward to conducting this process which has interested many people. “The Tiritilli campaign has requested seven precincts to review, of the 30 Normal precincts. By law, they could request up to 25 percent of the total precincts involved, which rounded, came out to seven precincts.” “We have found that we can allow Mr. Tiritilli to come in as early as this Wednesday to come in per their request as they want to compare voter signatures we have in our voter registration database to the signatures of those who voted on election day,” she said. This was another interesting fact that Michael had learned, for Tiritilli also has the liberty to participate in the recount. Tiritilli is confident in conducting a recount, as he believes it will provide a huge benefit and possible victory for his campaign. “We are pursuing a recount
in the Normal mayoral contest because there are 96 under voted ballots that could possibly change the outcome of the election. These could be truly blank, or they may contain intended votes that were improperly read by the machines,” he said. “These ballots do not get a closer inspection unless the recount occurs. We simply owe it to everybody who voted to examine the election in more detail and ensure everyone’s voice is fully heard.” “I have complete confidence in the County Clerk’s office and am looking forward to engaging in the process with them,” Tiritilli said. If results remain the same, Koos will serve his fourth term as mayor, a position he has held since 2003. DYLAN STEVENS is a news reporter for The Vidette and can be reached at dkstev1@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @dkstevens12.