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Disturbing evidence found in suspect's van

Posted at 6:36 PM, May 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-20 19:09:01-04

There are new developments in the case of a west Michigan man - who may be connected to the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa.

Jeffrey Willis is currently locked up because, police say, he abducted a 16-year-old girl.

That abduction happened last month in North Muskegon. Police say the girl got into his van to use his cell phone.

That's when police say Willis locked the doors and pulled a gun on her.

She managed to get away by jumping out of his van and later gave police a description of that vehicle.

When officers searched it, they found locked boxes. Inside them were handcuffs, chains, rope and syringes with a possible sedative.

They also found rubber gloves and a ski mask - even pictures of women were chained and bound.

In a separate locked box here was ammunition and a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol with the serial numbers destroyed.

Investigators with the Muskegon County Sheriff's Department were stunned.

Police are working to see if Jeffrey Willis is connected to the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa. She disappeared from her job at a gas station in Norton Shores in 2013.

They also say Willis could also be the person who shot and killed a 36 year-old woman in Muskegon County two years ago.

He's being held on one million dollars bond.