Search for missing boys comes to sad end in central Illinois

Two boys that authorities thought might be headed to Hoffman Estates after their father failed to return them home have instead been found dead in downstate Illinois.

In an emotional news conference Monday afternoon in Bloomington, authorities confirmed that the bodies of 9-year-old Duncan Connolly and 7-year-old Jack Connolly were discovered Sunday night in the back seat of their father's car in a "secluded" area of Putnam County, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago. The body of the boys' father, 40-year-old Michael Connolly, was found about 60 yards away from the car.

Autopsies were being conducted Monday afternoon, but police did not reveal how they believed the father and sons died, or when. They said they are treating the deaths as a double-murder and suicide but that they would respect the wishes of the family and keep details private.

The discovery ended the statewide search for the three, who were reported missing on March 8, after the elder Connolly did not end his court-ordered visit by returning the boys to his ex-wife in LeRoy, IL, a small town southeast of Bloomington in McLean County. Connolly lived in Bloomington.

A felony kidnapping warrant was issued March 9 for Connolly, along with an Amber Alert. At the time, police thought Connolly might be on his way to Hoffman Estates, as he had a former girlfriend here he hadn't seen in years, said Hoffman Estates Lt. Rich Russo.

McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery, however, said there is no evidence that Connolly ever contacted anyone in Hoffman Estates, nor that he contacted any family members.

Hoffman Estates police had both uniformed and nonuniformed officers in the area of the former girlfriend's home but never saw Connolly or anything suspicious, Russo added.

The discovery of her children's bodies also leaves a grieving mother angry at the justice system that she says failed her family.

McLean County State's Attorney Bill Yoder declined to comment at the news conference on Amy Leichtenberg's allegations that the courts could have saved her sons' lives.

Court records show Leichtenberg and Connolly divorced in 2006. A valid order of protection against Connolly, prohibiting contact with his ex-wife, remained in effect at the time of the disappearance. Despite it, a McLean County judge allowed Connolly unsupervised visits with the children, in which Connolly was supposed to drop the boys off at the LeRoy police station.

Through her tears, Brandi Tulley delivered a prepared statement on Amy Leichtenberg's behalf at the news conference, where posters of the two children were on display.

"My heart is broken and there are no words that express my pain," Tulley read. "No parent should have to bury their babies. Duncan and Jack, Mommy loves you to the heavens and back.

"I feel that the judicial system failed me. I pray that the courts listen to the warnings from other parents like me. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. The family respectfully requests that we have privacy as we cope with this horrible tragedy. Please keep our family and friends in your hearts and prayers."

Yoder did confirm there had been several criminal complaints filed by his office against Connolly, including multiple violations of orders of protection and telephone harassment, McLean County records show.

"I think at this point we have to focus on expressing our compassion to this family, making sure they understand they have our full support," Yoder said.

Funeral arrangements for the children are underway, Tulley added.

bull; Daily Herald wire services contributed to this report.