Five years after the brutal murders of Leslie Jones and Tom Johnson in their Oak Park home, there are no answers. That the deaths of two so prominent and beloved neighbors could be unsolved despite active investigation by Oak Park police, the Illinois State Police and the FBI is stunning. But it appears to be the reality that family and friends need to cope with, even as the emotions remain profound.
We find some small relief that after a half decade of near radio silence, a spokesperson for the local police force finally responded to simple questions from Wednesday Journal. Yes, the case remains actively open, a new detective has been assigned to the case after a retirement, and there was a fresh lead being pursued as recently as last December.
It’s not much, but it feels like a more respectful response to a community still mourning.