CHICAGO () — More than three decades after a young woman was abducted and killed while traveling from the Chicago area to college in Iowa, Illinois State Police are asking for help identifying information about a woman who may have crossed paths with a suspect in the case.
Tammy J. Zywicki, 21, vanished on Aug. 23, 1992, after leaving Evanston for Grinnell, Iowa. She never made it to campus.
Later that day, an Illinois State Police trooper discovered Zywicki’s abandoned car, a 1985 white Pontiac T1000. That evening, her mother contacted ISP to report that her daughter had not arrived at school.
On Sept. 1, 1992, Zywicki was found stabbed to death along Interstate 44 in rural Lawrence County, Missouri, between Joplin and Springfield.
Investigators said a semi-truck was seen near Zywicki’s vehicle. At the time, the driver was described as a white man between 35 and 40 years old, more than 6 feet tall, with dark, bushy hair.
Special agents are now seeking information about Theresa “Teri” Belenske, who may have had a connection to the truck driver. ISP said Belenske, whose maiden name was Vega, was known to hitchhike and may have traveled with the driver at some point before Zywicki was killed.
Police emphasized that Belenske is considered a person of interest, not a suspect. She would have been 32 at the time of Zywicki’s death and died in 2014 at age 54.
Investigators are looking for details about Belenske’s life and movements from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s. Authorities said she had ties to several California cities, including Oceanside, Vista, Pomona, San Bernadino and Fontana.
Police asked anyone with information about Belenske or Zywicki’s case to leave a crime tip at ISP Investigative Tips page or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Callers can remain anonymous.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the killer’s identification.
Police released a photo of Belenske taken in 2009, along with an AI-generated image of what she may have looked like in 1992.
Police also released photos of Zywicki and some of her property known to be missing.
Missing items include a Cannon 35mm camera and a Lorus brand musical wristwatch, which played the tune “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.” Also taken was a red and white soccer patch monogrammed with “St. Giles Soccer Club, Greenville, SC.”
Zywicki’s case remains active as ISP and the FBI continue to explore new leads, examine 200 pieces of evidence, and retest items with modern DNA technology.
