Creepy Clowns / #LawnBaby / Kidnapping of Wheaton College Student: Top Wheaton, Glen Ellyn Stories from 2016

The year is coming to an end and we are looking back some of our most popular stories from 2016.

From creepy clowns sighted on paths, roadways and parks in DuPage County to a scary report of a woman being grabbed from behind on the Prairie Path to one brave woman giving birth on her front lawn, we’ve covered a little bit of everything for Wheaton and Glen Ellyn readers.
Here is a look at our top stories from 2016 for Wheaton Patch and Glen Ellyn Patch.

Clown Sightings Reported on DuPage County Paths, Roadways and Parks

• Do you remember when creepy clowns were freaking out people across the country? The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office was among police departments throughout the U.S. and Chicago area who received several reports of creepy clowns in the area in October. And it was one of our most-read stories of the year. Read more here.

Woman Grabbed From Behind on Prairie Path Near Wheaton: Police

• In September, a woman was grabbed from behind on the Prairie Path during an early morning jog in unincorporated Wheaton. Thankfully, the woman was not hurt. Read more here.

#LawnBaby: Neighbor Comes to Rescue in Emergency Birth on Front Lawn

• A Wheaton woman ended up giving birth to her third baby on her front lawn. She credits her neighbor, a labor and delivery nurse, for helping to save the baby who had fluid in her lungs. This amazing story was shared over 2,500 times on Facebook this past year, getting a lot of attention from area readers. Read the full story here.

Stepmother Slips Nail Polish Remover Into Toddler's Bottle: Prosecutors

• This disturbing story involved a 36-year-old Carol Stream woman accused of sneaking nail polish remover into the bottle of her 17-month-old stepdaughter in May. The girl thankfully spit out the contents of the bottle and was not seriously injured or sickened. Read more here.

Wheaton Kindergarten Student Dies After Being Hit by Car

• John RuatPuia, a kindergarten student at Lincoln Elementary School, was walking home from school with his mother and two siblings on May 4 when he was struck by a vehicle. A GoFundMe page set up to help the local family has raised $37,000 of its $40,000 goal. Read more here.

Burglars Enter Glen Ellyn Homes While Residents Sleep, Steal Electronics

• This past September, the Glen Ellyn Police Department received several reports of burglars entering unlocked homes while residents slept and stole electronics. Read more here.

Realtor Accused of Stealing Jewelry From Client's Homes in Wheaton

• A 38-year-old real estate agent betrayed the trust of her clients when she allegedly stole jewelry from homes in Wheaton and Palatine in October. Jamie Detwiler was charged with one count of residential burglary, a non-probationable Class 1 felony, and one count of theft, a Class 3 felony. Read more here.

Lombard Mother of 2 Killed in Hit-and-Run on Indiana Interstate

• A 30-year-old Lombard woman who stepped outside her SUV on an Indiana interstate to check on a noise coming from her vehicle was struck and killed by a passing semi truck. Trippi’s two minor children and her mother were inside the SUV and witnessed the incident. Read more here.

State's Driver Service Facility in Downtown Wheaton to Close

• In March, the owners of the driver’s services facility in Wheaton announced they’d close after the state failed to make rent payments on the location. The story got a lot of attention from readers, and just days later, the owners announced the facility would be able to stay open after the owners decided to renew the lease.

Kidnapped Wheaton College Student Robbed at Gunpoint

• This pour Wheaton College student was plucked off a Glen Ellyn street, held at gunpoint in an SUV, and forced to use his ATM card to drain his bank account. "He had just left Starbucks with a cup of coffee in his hand," said DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin. Read more here.