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A popular theater student disappears from a party and is later found dead.
CASE DETAILS The University of Idaho sits in the picturesque rural setting of Moscow, Idaho. Little happens out of the ordinary here, so when a local university student suddenly disappeared, the town was in shock. On an early January morning in 1999, Wil Hendrick mysteriously vanished without a trace.  Was Wil picked up by a trucker? At 25, Wil Hedrick seemed very happy about where he was headed. He was well-liked in the theater department and had a good job on campus. Some believed his disappearance was related to the fact that he was openly gay. But all that was known was that he disappeared after a college party. That evening began with hard work. Wil and his partner of five years, Jerry Schutz, were remodeling their kitchen:
 Finding the car only raised more questions When Wil arrived at his friend Katie Payne’s house, two parties were in full swing. On the third floor there were mostly former athletes from the local high school. According to Katie, her party on the second floor was for her friends from the college theater department:
Throughout the night, Wil was concerned about another friend, Karen. Karen was having trouble with her boyfriend, a local resident who was attending the third-floor party. According to Wil’s friend, Kathy Sprague, Wil would often become belligerent if he had too much too drink:
By about 2:30 AM, Karen had gone home, leaving Katie to keep Wil from getting into trouble:
Katie noticed Wil’s car was still parked out front and assumed he had gone upstairs. By the next morning, the car was gone. Wil’s partner, Jerry, was immediately concerned when Wil didn’t come home:
 Police believe Wil was murdered When Wil hadn’t shown up by Monday morning, nearly 36 hours after the party, his friends combed the city searching for him. A big break came when they found his car parked on a downtown street. Jerry examined the car and was surprised to find it was unlocked and that Wil had left his portfolio inside:
On the dashboard were his work keys from the university. According to Dan Weaver, Chief of the Moscow Police Department, Wil’s car was thoroughly searched for any evidence that may have suggested foul play:
Finding the car only raised more questions about Wil’s disappearance. Wil’s friend, Kathy Sprauge, thought it was possible that Wil left voluntarily to start a new life:
But Katie Payne was not as optimistic. She believed that Wil’s sudden disappearance was somehow related to the events that took place in her apartment building the night of her party:
Jerry believed the car might hold the most important clues to Wil’s disappearance. When the police released the car, he discovered disturbing details:
Desperate for answers, Jerry pursued a theory that someone they both knew might have crossed Wil’s path early that January morning. Two months prior to Wil’s disappearance, Jerry had fired a van driver who worked for his shuttle service. According to Jerry, the man became angry and used a sexual slur:
Update: More than two years after Wil disappeared, two hunters found his skull and jaw bone in a rural area outside Moscow, Idaho. No other remains were found. The cause of death could not be determined, but police believe Wil was murdered. They also suspect that Wil knew his attacker. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season eleven with Robert Stack and in season five with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Patsy
Wow his birthday was December 24,1973 and mine is the 26th of December 1973 and I am a Hendrix. This blows my mind.
Ann
I just saw this on Unsolved Mysteries. I believe he went upstairs and I do believe the girl that’s his friend knew he got hurt in heated argument because she knew his vehicle was still there and after the vehicle showed up there was mud inside the fender well on the car and then some hunters found his skull so those kids know exactly what happened if it was an accident why not come forward and tell someone. If not, it looks like it was an intended murder!!
Bobby stacks
Cisco the Doberman pinscher was a sweet dog. I used to feed him raw hotdogs and peppermint patties. One time he had horrible diarrhea and messed all over my friends trans am back seat. We laughed for days!
M.DeBiaso
As family one of his many cousins, he hasn’t been forgotten and he was very much loved by his family. Breaks my heart to see all these theories, but no concrete evidence. If it was an accident then those people need to come forward. Because in the end the truth will come out. Truths tend to slip out when someone’s guilt becomes too much.
Cody
Just heard of your last name from my niece Virginia. I am cody trying to find out what happened to my brother. Leslie never really claimed me. I was her firstborn child that she gave away. My cousin Sierra, her mother Sylvia and I think that my birth mother stopped the investigation into my brother’s death. Please help me
Patsy
O just read that Will birthday was December 24 1973 well my birthday is December 26, 1973 I am also a Hendrix. This just blows my mind… I’m from Alabama though.
Monica
Just finished watching I believe the friend knew he went upstairs got into a fight and was hurt to cover it up they all got together and hid his body and nobody was found to be involved because they made sure they had matching stories
Julia
Hi everyone, I think the truck driver did it.
Chaz
The lesbian looking friend, she looks like and acts like she is hiding something.
Jan Ljungström
Yes, and they took polygraph tests.
thinkingoutloud
someone at that party knows what happened and they are too scared to tell. How could 2 very close friends of Wil’s come up with 2 different scenarios on what happened to him based on what they knew about him? why would one friend believe he randomly took off to start a new life and another say something terrible happened? these people know but they do not want to get involved.
Rich
Katie’s comments about Wil’s disappearance are pretty bizarre
Rae
Kathy did it.
She offered TWO contradictory explanations for what happened to him: The upstairs party-goers, AND the “running away” theory. She is the ONLY source of the “running away” theory. Only a killer would suggest that someone ran away, in order to put suspicion off of them.
Carl
I wouldn’t be surprised if Moscow PD failed to question everybody who was at that party. Good chance something got out of hand that night and resulted in murder.
Rae
Kathy did it. There is already the leading the leading theory that he was killed by someone he knew. But Kathy offered TWO contradictory explanations for what happened to him: The upstairs party-goers, AND the “running away” theory, both of which were confirmed to be false. She is the ONLY source of the “running away” theory. Only a killer would suggest that someone ran away, in order to put suspicion off of them.
CMG
Those two theories came from two different women. Kathy Sprague is the friend who expressed her belief that he may have left voluntarily. Katie Payne is the friend whose party he attended who believed people from the third floor were involved.
Samanatha Adair
I was with will the night he was killed, I begged and begged the bar tender to make him stay I begged I had a bad feeling I remember this tall well built guy that was with him I remember him frowning at me because I was begging the bar tender then I see the flyers of him missing I couldn’t believe it his uncle was sitting on the other stool it’s been in my heart for years so sad
Cody Endicott
I would like to talk to you. I am Wil’s sister.
Tracy
I need to speak with Leslie. I grew up as a childhood friend of billy. Why I don’t have any evidence to offer, I still need to speak with his mom. White house down long lane with Doberman pinscher named Cisco. Please
Becky
Did Leslie ever reach out to you? I am Billy’s oldest sister, Becky. Feel free to reach out!
Cody
Why haven’t you contacted me? I am his sister
Mark
You are clearly an attention seeking liar. Those girls confirmed Wil was at the party until 2:30am. I can’t think of any bars that start serving patrons after 2:30am unless that stool you were sitting on was in Las Vegas. It’s sad that you are aware of this family’s grief but you still choose to seek attention that you don’t deserve.
Becky
I’m confused. When was Wil at a bar? What’s the deal about his ‘uncle’. I’m Wil’s sister (not Cody) and nothing you say makes any sense relating to his murder. Please give more clear info.
Patsy
I Think They Need to Reopen this case now that DNA has improved more over the years!!
Chanita
He’s A Handsome Young Man Why Was He Murdered? I Think He Was Murdered By Someone He knew That’s Terrible William God Bless U My Friend God Knows Who Your Killers Are And They Will Be Brought to Justice For U! And To The Family of William I Am Terribly Sorry For Your Lost Just Stay Strong! Love U! From Your Friend In Jesus Christ Chanita Jackson!
Michael
His boyfriend did it
Picachu
Do you care to develop further on your statement about the boyfriend?
Paul
How can you be so bold to day that? There is absolutely no evidence to suggest this. His boyfriend totally spoiled him, and was unconditionally devoted.
Becky
Was Jerry properly investigated and interrogated? I think not.
Becky Hendrick McMahan
Was Wil totally devoted to Jerry or was Jerry his Sugar Queen until school ended and he could move to Hollywood? Wil was against the commitment ceremony Jerry mentions. He didn’t want to be tied down to Moscow.
Kay
Have those guys on the third floor ever been questioned??
Steve
I’m thinking the police did a shotty job on the investigation doubt they questioned everyone up stairs the jocks probably didn’t give up all the names that were there
And is bet they knew something
They missed something I bet