Autopsy: Carriers drowned

No signs of foul play: Police still looking into how van ended up in Des Plaines River

 JOLIET - The three Herald News carriers missing since Sunday were found - but their deaths and how they ended up at the bottom of the Des Plaines River remains a mystery.

Autopsies conducted Friday morning on Karen Bockhol, 49; her son Thomas Bockhol, 23, and daughter Tracy Bockhol, 26, revealed the three drowned, said White Miller, Will County deputy coroner.

"There were no signs of foul play," Miller said.

Joliet police Cmdr. James Grace said any marks of traumatic injury on the bodies appeared consistent with injuries sustained in an automobile crash.

Bockhol's older son, Wayne Bockhol, alerted police that his family was missing after they did not return home from delivering papers at their usual time of 7:30 a.m.

The search ended Thursday when Joliet Fire Department divers located the white van the Bockhols delivered newspapers from in 12 feet of water about 10 feet offshore.

Joliet police Lt. James Stewart and Sgt. Robert Brenczewski, both detectives, figured the van might have driven into the river at Lime Street when they noticed bark missing from a tree between the corner of Lime and Bluff streets and the river. Looking closer, the detectives also discovered traces of white paint on the tree and what appeared to be plastic from a broken automobile light cover on the ground nearby.

An arduous search of the river led to the van's recovery. The three Bockhols were found inside.

The house closest to the point where police believe the van rolled into the river was on the Bockhols' route and had received its Sunday paper, said Joliet police Sgt. Robert Kelly.

Police were still checking for mechanical problems with the Bockhols' 1989 Dodge Caravan, particularly with the brakes. 911 call

They also continued searching for the driver of a red car who apparently collided with the Bockhols' van about 6:50 a.m. at the corner of Bridge and Bluff streets.

Karen Bockhol made a 911 call to police after that crash, Grace said.

"She identifies herself at 6:51 and basically says she's been in an accident," he said.

Bockhol did not sound particularly distressed or as if she were being menaced or threatened, Grace said. She declined to have an officer dispatched to the scene or to make a police report.

"It says, '(The other driver) doesn't want anything done and I don't have any damage, so we don't need you,'" Grace recounted.

Two witnesses have reported the accident to police, but the driver's identity has proved elusive.

Detectives have forwarded a tape of the 911 call to state police where it can be enhanced to detect background sounds otherwise inaudible.

The investigation has revealed nothing to make detectives believe the van was fleeing from another vehicle when it crashed into the water.

"Absolutely not," Grace said. "There's no evidence to indicate that at all."

Likewise, given the damage to the tree and the recovered van, Grace found it doubtful that someone pushed the van into the river.

Accident reconstructionists from the Joliet department and state police Friday were investigating where the van plummeted from the shore into the river.

Memorials in place

Three wooden crosses bearing the names and photographs of the Bockhols stood on the bank. Messages from loved ones were written on the crosses in black marker, and flowers were stuck in the ground at the foot of each. A copy of The Herald News in a yellow plastic bag also was left by each cross.

Family and friends also have set up memorial funds for the funerals and for Wayne, the sole surviving Bockhol.

"Wayne needs it bad," said Matthew Burke, Wayne's cousin.

Wayne was injured at his job years ago and has trouble taking care of himself.

"He can't work," Burke said. "There ain't no way."

A relative who asked not to be identified set up the Karen Bockhol Family Fund through First Midwest Bank, depositing the first $100 Friday morning.

To donate, contributors need only to write "Karen Bockhol Family Fund" on First Midwest deposit slips at any bank location.

A fellow carrier, Jennifer Boyd, has set up a fund as well. To contribute, send donations to New Century Credit Union, c/o Bockhol Family Fund, 291 Springfield Ave., Joliet, IL 60435.

A memorial service, originally planned as a prayer vigil, will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at St. John's Catholic Church, 404 N. Hickory St.

Investigation continues

While the autopsy conducted Friday offered no clues into how the Bockhols' van landed in the river, results of toxicology testing must still be returned. Miller said the process should be completed within four to six weeks.

While the deaths now seem accidental, police have not closed the door on any other cause. Grace said detectives had ruled out a possible suspect - a 15-year-old convicted arsonist - before the bodies had even be found.

The 15-year-old admitted the arson, and his case did not go to trial. If it had, members of the Bockhol family may have been called to testify as witnesses to the March 2000 fire across the way from their Stone Street home.

"We've interviewed him and cleared him," Grace said.

Wayne Bockhol remained at his home with friends and family the day after the bodies of his mother, brother and sister were found and identified.

"He's doing all right," Burke said of his grieving cousin. "The worst is yet to come."