Multiple agencies participate in massive investigation

Illinois attorney general's office added to Gee Homicide Task Force

[October 01, 2009]  The following is a Wednesday press release from Logan County Sheriff Steven G. Nichols:

I advised you last week that I have formed a Task Force to investigate the murder of the Raymond Gee family in Beason on September 21, 2009. The Task Force will be called the Gee Homicide Task Force. Agencies involved include the Logan County Sheriff's Department, Lincoln Police Department, Illinois State Police, Logan County State's Attorney's Office, Illinois Attorney General's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Sheriff's Department: Sheriff, Chief Deputy, 3 investigators working full-time on the case plus managing the agency.

Lincoln Police Department: Chief, Deputy Chief, 2 Detectives providing investigative assistance and monitoring the Tip Line. Patrol officers are following up on leads within the city.

Illinois State Police: The Illinois State Police is providing a number of different functions that include:

ISP Command Team providing oversight and support to the investigation

Two teams of Special Agents and Supervisors (17 Officers) that are responsible for conducting the hundreds of the leads generated from this case. Some of the ISP officers have come from around the state to assist with this investigation. These agents offer a wealth of experience from working other high profile investigations.

ISP Crime Scene Investigators -- A total of 6 CSI officers processed the crime scene and continues to provide oversight and management of in excess of 170 Exhibits.

ISP Case Management Officer cataloguing and tracking all investigative leads.

ISP Logistic Officer providing computers, copiers, paper, etc.

Illinois State Police Crime Lab is conducting the analysis of numerous items of evidence. This includes fingerprints, blood, DNA, etc.

ISP Criminal and Intelligence Analysts from the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) are conducting detailed analysis of the Gee Family phone records, criminal background investigations, preparing link analysis charts and other products in support of the investigation.

ISP Air Operations is providing air search support.

Logan County State's Attorney's Office:
Reviewing lead information and providing prosecutorial oversight of the investigation.

Illinois Attorney General's Office:
Reviewing lead information and providing prosecutorial oversight of the investigation.

Logan County Emergency Management Agency:
Providing logistical search support for potential evidence in the Beason area.

Federal Bureau of Investigation:
Reviewing lead information and providing analytical and technical support to the investigation.

I would also like to inform the public that the Task Force is receiving assistance from multiple police agencies around the state and from other states in the follow-up of the numerous leads.

Task Force members met yesterday at the Illinois State Police Crime Lab in Springfield to review the physical evidence from the crime scene and to prioritize the items to be analyzed by the lab.

I want to point out that Tip Line being utilized for this investigation is the same number for our local CRIMESTOPPERS, 217-732-3000. Currently, the tips reported to the Tip Line number are in excess of 500. We encourage the public to continue utilizing the Tip Line if you have any information about this investigation.

Finally, I want to thank the various organizations and individuals that have donated or offered to donate food to the Task Force members here at the Safety Complex. We currently have our Command Post located in the Blue Room here. The room is staffed, at a minimum, from 8 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. or later at night. Some of the ISP officers have come from around the state to assist with this investigation. I appreciate your consideration.

[Text from news release from the Logan County sheriff]