Western Springs' 21-year-old Cold Case

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Western Springs’ weather on December 23, 1993 was very cold and windy, with an occasional rain/snow mix. And, by 6:45 p.m., it was completely dark.

Few people were out walking at that hour. However, as fate would have it, Bessie Skalak, a 51-year-old Brookfield resident who did house cleaning in the general area, was crossing Wolf Road at 41st Street.

Suddenly, a burgundy-colored Chevy or GMC van came out of the darkness, striking and killing Bessie.

The few witnesses to the accident could not provide a description of the van’s driver, nor could they agree on the exact year and make of the vehicle. All they could say for sure was that the van was either a Chevy or GMC and that it was painted either dark red or burgundy. One thing was sure … the driver never stopped after the accident.

As paramedics transported the victim from the scene, police questioned witnesses and searched the area for evidence. While they did recover some small pieces of the van that were left at the accident scene, subsequent efforts to match them to a specific vehicle or owner were unsuccessful.

At the time, police speculated that, in order to reduce the chances of being identified, the driver might have parked the vehicle in a garage for a period of time rather than take it in for repairs. Soon the case went cold with few if any leads.

Even though 21 years have passed, if you have any information that might help solve this tragic case, call the Western Springs Police at 708-246-8540.

Each week, the Western Springs Historical Society presents a “Blast from the Past”. To view prior stories, visit us at www.westernspringshistory.org.