Downers Grove Family Offers $10K Reward For Info On 1972 Murder

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Joan Iwema was a 27-year-old mother with four children when she was found shot to death inside of her home in unincorporated Downers Grove in 1972. More than 45 years after her murder, Iwema's case remains unsolved and her family is offering a reward of $10,000 for information that could put her murderer behind bars.

According to an archived Chicago Tribune article, Iwema was found on the kitchen floor of her home in the 7400 block of South Main Street by her six-year-old son on Feb. 16, 1972. The son, then six, reportedly told his father when he called that "Mommy is sick." Iwema's husband then asked a neighbor to check on her and the neighbor discovered Iwema and alerted police.

The archived article says Iwema had been shot in the temple with a "high-caliber weapon." Iwema was survived by her husband, Bonne, and four small children between the ages of 2 months and six years old.

Bonne Iwema died on May 20, 2019, according to an online obituary.

The reward information was shared by the DuPage County Sheriff's Office on Facebook Tuesday afternoon. Anyone who believes they have information that may help solve this cold case is urged to call the DuPage County Sheriff's Office at 630-407-2400 and ask for the Cold Case Unit.

Read more via Chicago Tribune archive