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Man faces murder charge in 2014 shooting death

Posted at 10:41 AM, May 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-25 17:24:06-04

A western Michigan man accused of abducting a 16-year-old girl last month has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a 36-year-old woman in 2014.

The Muskegon County prosecutor's office announced the charge Wednesday against 46-year-old Jeffrey Willis, of Muskegon Township, in the death of Rebekah Bletsch.

Willis had been under investigation in her death since he was charged in April with kidnapping and other crimes in an incident involving a girl in Muskegon County's Fruitland Township. She told investigators that she jumped out of Willis' van to escape.

Authorities also have said Willis is being investigated in the 2013 disappearance of then-25-year-old Jessica Heeringa.

He's being held on $1 million bond. The public defender's office, which is representing Willis, says it doesn't comment on pending cases.