Beth Bentley: Fact She is Missing!

Beth Bentley, 41 went missing on May 23^rd 2010. In my opinion, after viewing various documents and interviews this is a case of intimate partner homicide. Someone who knew Beth Bentley, in my opinion is responsible for her disappearance.

Earlier today Monica Caison, founder of the Cue Center for missing persons appeared on my show "Time's Up" along with Beth Bentley’s brother Ron Michelson to briefly discuss the case.

For months rumors have been circling since she vanished.

Fact: Beth Bentley is missing. She did not just pick up and leave to begin a new life. As in each of these cases a mother would never leave her children. And at the time of her vanishing she was allegedly pregnant.

Fact: When Beth Bentley did not return home, it was her son from a previous marriage contacted the police. Earlier reports indicated otherwise, but those reports are false. Each time her son called to follow-up he was allegedly dismissed by law enforcement and told “they were waiting for tips to come in.” When the son made posters and was going to hang them around the area and at the train station, again law enforcement allegedly said “don’t bother hanging posters it’s a waste of time.”

Fact: There has been no cell phone usage since May 23, 2010 or credit card activity.

Fact: A few months after Beth Bentley went missing, a “love interest” moved into the marital home with her children.

There is more twist and turns in this case then a tornado. In the weeks and months ahead they will be revealed.

Another disturbing fact is that on September 10, 2010, a special grand jury indicted McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi on conspiracy and official misconduct charges that accuse him of using county employees and equipment for political purposes. So that translates into the State’s Attorney’s office being turned upside down.

Given the players and the circumstances surrounding this case it may take a special prosecutor to move this case in a new direction.

Fact: The devil is in the details.

On the January 19, 2011, the Police from Woodstock said “their active investigation is over.”

This case is not over by a long shot. In my opinion, it has just begun.

On December 2, 2010, the CUE Center launched the "Miles For Beth Bentley" campaign. Please, if you are from the area help the Cue Center by posting this information in the community and on blogs, websites, churches and the community.

The link posters and other information is HERE.

And finally, Fact: Beth Bentley is missing and she deserves to be found!

There is a $5,000 reward being offered in this case. To report a confidential tip the number to call is 910-232-1687 (24 hour tip-line)

Miles for Beth Bentley Campaign

How is works…
You register at the site for “Miles for Beth Bentley” and navigate to the county you live in or are familiar with, search for any road way and adopt it. Once you adopt the road or street, you must register that information on the site. This effort will aid the search for Beth as it is imperative to locate information on her travels and or whereabouts. Each ADPOTED” road or street that is delivered posters door to door, will allow us to obtain knowledge on Beth and where might have been in her travels. This campaign is open to anyone who would like to help in this case.

Purpose:
The concept for this campaign is to garner the attention of the general public and media outlets in an effort to aid in awareness of a missing mother, Beth Bentley; and to help identify areas of interest to conduct future search efforts.

Objective:
To challenge citizens of the state of Illinois to participate in locating Beth Bentley who remains missing. We hope to eliminate roads, streets and highways in search of any clue or tip she may have left behind. Our ultimate goal to locate missing, Beth Bentley and afford her family a resolution.

Link to Mapquest to the routes that Beth may have traveled. In and around the area of the blue line is the possible directions of travel.

Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visithttp://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/ She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and SurviveAbusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Rothhttp://www.therothshow.com/

Charging Ahead or Failing to Charge

After a family discovers a crime scene or reports a loved missing in cases where the spouse or former boyfriend is the likely the individual responsible for the murder or vanishing act it often creates an additional burden on law enforcement to follow through and properly investigate the case as a possible homicide.

In the case of Kelly Currin Morris, the 28-year-old mother of two, missing since September 3, 2008, police located her remains in a heavily wooded area last week. William "Scott" Morris (the husband)has been charged with first-degree murder and for burning a dwelling, shared by the couple and their children. It was burned down the day after Kelly was reported missing. He is being held without bond and likely will remain where he belongs, behind bars.

The law enforcement community did a remarkable job, otherwise William Scott Morris would still be a free man as we have often seen in other cases. It is not easy to investigate a case involving "intimate homicide."

Renee Pagel Case Still Unsolved

Still unresolved, and frankly outrageous, is the unsolved murder of Renee Pagel ,found stabbed to death in her bed recovering from surgery, (after donating aa kidney to a complete stranger) just days away from her divorce being finalized. According to close friends and relatives the grade school teacher and a registered nurse told others she was in "fear for her life." A week before her murder she changed the beneficiary of her life insurance policy from her estranged husband to a close family friend.

Her estranged husband, Michael Pagel, is the only person who has not voluntarily cooperated with police, nor has he provided an alibi to police for the night of Renee's murder. He retains custody of the couple's children.

As many women say when they are married to an abusive spouse, "if something happens to me, make sure people know it was not an accident." And, yet, in Rockford, Michigan detectives assigned to the case, in "name only," appear to have dropped the ball and the case file is sitting in a drawer collecting spiders, cob webs and dust.

Are cases like this more difficult because they already have the body, it's not that important, and no one is around to put pressure on investigating and ultimately charge the person responsible?

I realize a good defense attorney would attempt to kick a case like this to the curb. There would be media and a lot of mud slinging. But, a seasoned prosecutor would be able to win such a case and get a conviction.

Isn't the prosecutor the one who represents justice for the victim?