In a chilling case that has haunted a small Illinois community for nearly a decade, the brutal murder of 25-year-old Sarah Washington has resurfaced in the public eye as new details emerge. On June 26, 2014, Sarah was found shot dead in her Kakei apartment, a tragic end to a life filled with promise and dreams. Her mother discovered the horrific scene after failing to reach her daughter for an afternoon pick-up for work. When she entered the apartment, she was met with a nightmare: Sarah lay lifeless on the floor, shot twice in the head.

Despite the shocking violence, police found no signs of forced entry or robbery, raising immediate questions about the motive behind this senseless act. Initial suspicions fell on Sarah’s boyfriend, Greg, but he was quickly cleared after providing an alibi. Attention then shifted to Rex Frank, a man who had been in Sarah’s apartment the day she was 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed. His inconsistent statements and suspicious behavior only deepened the mystery.

As investigators continued their search for answers, a second murder occurred just days later, that of Ryan Maiden, which complicated matters further. Rex, who was found at the scene, would later confess to Ryan’s murder, linking him to Sarah’s case through ballistics evidence—the same gun was used in both 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ings.

In 2019, after years of uncertainty, justice appeared within reach when Rex was finally convicted of Sarah’s murder, sentenced to life in prison. Yet, the underlying motive remains disturbingly unclear, casting a shadow over the resolution. As the community reflects on Sarah’s tragic fate and the lingering questions surrounding her death, her memory continues to shine brightly, a stark reminder of the love and warmth she brought to those around her.