On May 28, 1973, 18-year-old white female Dawn Marie Huwe, a student at Illinois State University from East Peoria, Illinois, disappeared from campus over Memorial Day weekend. Her body was discovered more than two months later, on August 5, 1973, buried in a shallow grave in a field approximately four miles west of Danvers, Illinois. The remains of the 18-year-old white female were identified through dental records and clothing. The McLean County Coroner determined that her death was caused by a blow to the front of the head and lacerations around the neck.
The investigation into the death of 18-year-old white female Dawn Marie Huwe led authorities to Jesse Donald Sumner, a 36-year-old man from Stanford, Illinois. Sumner had a prior criminal record, including a manslaughter conviction in 1963, and had been released on parole in January 1972. He was initially arrested on a battery charge in July 1973, and further investigation linked him to the disappearance and death of Huwe. During a polygraph test, Sumner provided information that led authorities to the burial site.
Sumner was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of 18-year-old white female Dawn Marie Huwe and another woman, Rae Ann Schneider, whose body was found buried in Sumner's garage. Evidence presented during the investigation included testimony from Sumner's wife, who claimed to have seen Huwe's driver's license and a club card in their garage shortly after the victim's disappearance. Sumner's mother, Beatrice Sumner, was later charged with obstructing justice after allegedly admitting to burning the identification items.
In September 1974, Jesse Donald Sumner pleaded guilty to the murder of 18-year-old white female Dawn Marie Huwe. He admitted to killing her with a tire iron after engaging in sexual activity with her in Tazewell County. Although he initially attempted to plead guilty to rape as well, the court rejected that plea after Sumner denied using force. He also pleaded guilty to the murders of Rae Ann Schneider and Corene Marie Burchie, another Illinois State University student. Sumner faced multiple sentences, including a 50-to-100-year term for a separate murder conviction.
