Bones Found: Wendy Gessing's Boyfriend Waits For Answers

CREST HILL, IL —It's been more than eight months since Wendy Gessing vanished while working at the Pizzas By Marchelloni restaurant on North Raynor Avenue in Crest Hill. On Wednesday, Will County Sheriff's investigators learned that skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area on Joliet's east side along the 700 block of Patterson Road.

On Friday, Joliet Patch interviewed Scott Harris, long-time owner and manager of Pizzas By Marchelloni, and the boyfriend of Gessing. She was 50 at the time of her disappearance last June. Harris said he contacted a police detective asking if the human bones were male or female.

Harris said the police detective informed him "they didn't know yet."

Will County police said the human remains included a skull, several ribs and a femur bone. The area along Patterson Road has acres of woods, and plenty of wild animals.

Patch asked Harris if he thinks the bones found on Patterson Road are Gessing.

"I don't know," Harris told Patch. "I hope not. There is no reason for her to be down there."

Harris said the police still have Gessing's dental records on file for comparison purposes.

Harris said he remains in regular contact with Crest Hill police officials investigating his girlfriend's disappearance. The couple lived together on Hosmer Lane, a short drive from their takeout and delivery pizza business.

Patch asked Harris if the Crest Hill police were still aggressively pursuing new leads and tips in hopes of solving the mystery.

"As far as I know," Harris said. "They still have my car. I would like to have it back at some point. I'm fine with them having it for now."

Harris said the gray Honda CRV, which was discovered on Joliet's west side in the 400 block of Buell Avenue, was impounded by police last summer in hopes of finding DNA evidence connected to the disappearance.

Because the missing person case remains unsolved, Harris said he realizes Crest Hill police have to remain tight-lipped on certain matters in the investigation.

"I'm sure they're not telling me everything," Harris said.

Harris said he stays in regular contact with Gessing's mother, who lives in the area. Gessing also has a sister who lives near Coal City and a brother in Las Vegas, Harris said.

Crest Hill police have not announced they have cleared anybody in connection with Gessing's disappearance.

"I'm being as cooperative as I can with them," Harris said Friday in the middle of taking phone calls for pizza orders.

"They said they aren't looking at me," Harris said.

Harris has operated the Pizzas By Marchelloni in Crest Hill for more than 20 years. He said that January and the first part of February were especially tough months for sales.

"The last two weeks have been good," he remarked. "We've got our core customers here."

On the outside storefront window, Harris continues to display last summer's missing person poster he made of Gessing.

He also displays another poster near his front counter. He said the $2,000 reward offered by her family remains in place, and so is the $5,000 reward he's offering.

Gessing disappeared on a Saturday evening, June 12, 2021.

Harris said he worked at the restaurant that afternoon. When he drove home, he and Gessing switched cars, and then she drove to work.

At some point during her work shift, she left Pizzas By Marchelloni and never returned. That night, Harris said he visited the Lockport Moose Club where he is a member.

During Friday's interview, Patch asked Harris if he had any other message he wanted to convey in regard to his girlfriend's disappearance.

Last August marked 14 years Harris and Gessing had been together.

"We just want her to come home," Harris replied. "If she was abducted, somebody let her go."

Harris has told Patch he does not believe Gessing chose to go missing in hopes of starting a new life elsewhere.

"She was big momma bear," Harris said. "Her (adult) son means everything to her."