A serial killer on death row claimed responsibility. Investigators could never make his story match the evidence -- and the family who lived along a quiet stretch of Illinois road never got an answer.
Who the Dardeens Were
Russell "Keith" Dardeen, 29, and his wife Ruby "Elaine" Dardeen, 30, had moved to Ina, Illinois, about a year before their deaths, settling into a mobile home along Route 37 with their young son, Peter. Both were active in their small Baptist church, where Keith sang and Elaine played piano. Elaine worked at an office supply store; Keith worked at the local water treatment plant. Elaine was seven months pregnant with the couple's second child, a daughter they planned to name Casey.
The Discovery
On November 18, 1987, police conducted a welfare check at the Dardeen home after Keith failed to show up for work. Inside, they found Elaine and Peter dead; the attack had also caused Elaine to go into premature labor, and the newborn did not survive. Keith was missing. We are not detailing the specific nature of the injuries involved, given that a young child was among the victims.
A Second Discovery
Keith's body was found the following day in a field, having been shot three times. His car was later found parked directly in front of the police station in nearby Benton, roughly 11 miles away, with blood evidence inside indicating it was likely where he had been killed.
An Extensive, Unsuccessful Investigation
More than 30 detectives worked the case, interviewing over 100 people and pursuing more than 1,000 leads. Investigators also brought in a cult expert given aspects of how the crime was carried out. DNA evidence was recovered from the victims and preserved, but investigators never obtained anything to match it against, since no suspect was ever conclusively identified. The case has since been shared with the FBI's cold case unit.
A Confession That Didn't Hold Up
In 2000, Tommy Lynn Sells, a man who had confessed to dozens of murders committed while traveling around the country, claimed responsibility for the Dardeen killings among many others. Investigators were never able to corroborate his account, and it contained inconsistencies with known facts about the crime. Of the more than 70 murders Sells claimed, authorities only considered him credibly linked to about 22 by the time of his execution in Texas in 2014; the Dardeen case was not among them, and he was never formally charged in it.
Where the Case Stands
Nearly four decades later, the Dardeen family homicides remain officially unsolved and are regarded as one of the most disturbing unsolved cases in Illinois history. Keith's mother, Joeann Dardeen, spent years publicly campaigning to keep attention on the case, including gathering thousands of signatures in an effort to get it broader media coverage.
FAQ
Was the Dardeen family case ever solved?
No. It remains officially unsolved despite one of the largest investigations in the area's history.
Did Tommy Lynn Sells commit the murders?
He claimed responsibility, but investigators could never corroborate his account, and he was never charged in the case before his 2014 execution for other crimes.
Is there still evidence that could solve the case?
DNA evidence from the victims has been preserved and shared with the FBI's cold case unit, offering some possibility that advancing forensic technology could eventually identify a suspect.