ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. — The Illinois State Police are investigating three cases of women found dead in the Metro East in the last few weeks and said there are "similarities" in the cases.
In a press conference, Investigating Commander Calvin Brown said the three murders have multiple similarities: lifestyles, locations frequented and the times when their bodies were found. They did not, however, say the cases were related.
Brown said the Illinois State Police, Washington Park Police and East St. Louis Police will have additional patrols in the area.
A woman was found shot to death early Sunday morning, the third woman found shot dead in the last two weeks in the Metro East.
Police said they were called early Sunday morning to the intersection of Jefferson and Bellevue Avenues for a report of a person down. When they arrived, they found 38-year-old Amanda M. Legare dead just off the side of the road from a gunshot wound.
Around 5 a.m. on July 9, Sandra Reckmann, 49 was found dead in an area of overgrown vegetation in the 1600 block of 56th Street. Reckmann was known to frequent the Bunkum Road at Kingshighway area, according to Illinois State Police.
Bridgett B. Williams, 56, was found dead in the John Thornton Memorial Park area around 3:10 a.m. the next day.
Police said it is unknown if the first two killings were connected.
Investigators with Illinois State Police Zone 6 are looking into all three killings. Anyone with information is asked to call Illinois State Police Special Agent D. Weh at 618-346-3760 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477 to leave an anonymous tip.