Another missing resident declared dead

Seventeen years.

And now the family begins Chapter 2.

Chapter 2, if written, will show the resting place of Wes Eviston's remains and the discovery, prosecution and punishment of the person or persons who killed him.

Friday afternoon was an important day for Betty Stanton and her remaining son, Nick Eviston, for that afternoon, with the legalities tended to, Circuit Judge Robert McCallen III signed the order declaring Wes officially dead.

Wes, rural Wabash, disappeared Aug. 29, 1991, and though the family years ago essentially made terms with the worst, it was still a bit of a jolt to make it official.

“it's been a long time,” said Betty. “I guess we've got to turn the page.”

What's actually new, said NIck after the order was signed, “is being able to accept the fact he's gone. But the main object is to find out the truth as to what really did happen.”

“It's like Chapter 2 now,” added Betty. “We need to go on and find out who did it. Wes needs justice. That's all we want is justice.”

“Exactly!” said Nick.

The two have never rested in their pursuit of the case nor allowed city, county and state police to entirely forget it , what with periodic phone calls, letters, visits. They have worked to interest the governor, the superintendent of state police, television talk show hosts.

They are hoping the legal action might bump things along in two areas - perhaps it will help interest a Cold Case crew from state police or elsewhere to give the matter another look. And it may help interest an attorney in a wrongful death civil suit - in the process of which, information about Wes' disappearance may come out.

Another disappearance, that of Billy Joe Smith some five years ago, recently also reached a partial solution, as Smith's father, Robert, and brother, Jim, had him declared dead Aug. 29 in the same court. Billy Joe went missing in May 2003.

Though the disappearances were 12 years apart, they bore numerous similarities - vehicles and wallets, for instance, found in the area days later. The Smiths have been no less active in pressing investigators to give the investigation one more try - particularly as both families believe they know the name of the killer.

Police won't go so far on the record, but both families have been advised by police close to the case that, as Betty put it, “If you find one, you'll find them both.”

The Smith's too are looking into the possibility of a wrongful death action to flush out additional information.