The Dardeen Family Murder Story: Who Murdered Them?

In the 1980s, the Dardeen family was brutally murdered in the small Illinois town of Ina. Russell, Ruby, Peter, and Casey were all brutally killed in their own home, and the person who did it has never been found.

Mr. K
4 min readJan 6

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The Dareen family. | Photo credit: buggedspace.com

In the 1980s, the Dardeen family was brutally murdered in the small Illinois town of Ina. Russell, Ruby, Peter, and Casey were brutally murdered in their own residence, and the killer was never apprehended. There have been many theories and suspects proposed, but no conclusive answers have been found. Follow the tragic tale of the Dardeen family’s untimely demise and the never-ending pursuit of justice.

Photo credit: kmov.com

In the 1980s, Ina, Illinois, was a small community in the southwestern portion of Jefferson County, United States. Despite its relative isolation, this town was equipped with essential services such as a convenience store, gas station, bank, and post office. Russell Keith Dardeen and Ruby Elaine were also residents of this town.

In 1987, Keith and Elaine, who lived in a trailer, had a son named Peter who was two years old. Elaine was pregnant with their second child, who was to be named Casey, at the time. Elaine worked at an office supply store, while Keith worked at a water treatment facility.

Given that Jefferson County was not considered a safe area, it is important to note that Keith was an extremely protective family man. Common crimes included rape and murder. There was no assurance of safety and tranquility.

The true story began on November 18, 1987, when police executed a search warrant at Keith’s residence. The search was necessary because Keith’s parents filed a report. Prior to this, Keith’s employer had contacted Keith’s parents to inform…

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Mr. K

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