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Man arrested in death of girlfriend's baby, 2
By Mike Lyons and Jo McCord, Journal writers
as reported in the Daily-Journal
WATSEKA - Kevin R. Ziebart, 30, of Watseka, was
arrested early Wednesday for the murder of his
girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter.
Ziebart, of 833 S. 4th Street, is accused of causing
the death of Kloie VanHoveln by shaking or beating the
child.
She was pronounced dead at Carle Hospital late Tuesday
after being airlifted to Urbana.
Kloie was the daughter of Paulette Moenck, 19, a
resident of Oppyville, a subdivision just west of
Watseka city limits. Kloie's obituary appears
on page 5.
Circuit Judge David Youck set Ziebart's bond at $3
million on Wednesday. He remained jailed today in
lieu of bail.
The arrest was announced at a press conference
conducted Wednesday evening at county jail by
State's Attorney Mark Thompson, Watseka Deputy
Police Chief Don King and Lt. Randy Eimen,
chief investigator for the Iroquois County sheriff's
department.
Authorities at Iroquois Memorial Hospital summoned
Watseka police after Ziebart brought the girl to
the hospital around 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, saying
that she had fallen.
Thompson, citing a recent Illinois Supreme Court
ruling limiting information law enforcement agencies
are allowed to divulge about pending cases,
declined to release additional details.
Ziebart's next court appearance is set for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 8.
News today of the girl's brutal death stunned members
of Watseka's Centennial Christian Church, where
Kloie's kin are members.
She was remembered today as a sweet, shy, blonde child
who liked to strum the guitar and sit on the
lap of her grandmother Connie VanHoveln or
grandpa Charles at church activities.
Mrs. VanHoveln said she is angry and hurt but has put
her grief in God's hands.
"I have her pictured up in Heaven with the angels
and one day I'm gonna get to play with her again,"
Mrs. VanHoveln said today.
She said she got to see Kloie and kiss her little
hand. She said Kloie was at peace with the Lord.
According to Journal files, Ziebart, formerly of
Milford, is the brother of Matthew Ziebart, who
shot himself to death after a botched stickup
of a Houston convenience store in May 1999.
Kevin R. Ziebart
Wednesday, September 06, 2000
Bond petition State's Attorney's
office wants Ziebart held without bond
By SHERRY WATERS
Reporter for the
Iroquois County's Times Republic
Watseka, Illinois
Iroquois County State's Attorney Mark Thompson petitioned the
court Tuesday afternoon to withold bond privileges from
Kevin Ziebart, 30, Watseka Assistant State's Attorney Scott
Ripley entered the petition for the State's Attorney's
office.
Ziebart is accused of murdering two-year-old
Kloie
Van Hoveln of rural Watseka. State's Attorney
Mark
Thompson said last week that the toddler
died as a result of being beaten or shaken.
Ziebart, who was involved in a relationship with
the child's mother, had brought the child to the
hospital on the morning of Aug. 29 and claimed
she had been injured in a fall from a
slide in a local park. Information police had was
that he had been babysitting her when her injuries occurred.
Thompson said earlier today that the court will not
make the decision about withholding bond until Friday.
"But from now until the court decides on Friday.
Mr. Ziebart will be held without bond," Thompson said.
Thompson noted there are a number of statutory grounds
that must be met for this type of request.
"The two primary ones in this case would deal with
danger to other persons or the likelihood of flight,"
Thompson said.
Ziebart is scheduled for a court appearance at 1:30
p.m. Friday, and his preliminary hearing will be conducted Sept.11.
Police arrested Ziebart for murder after Kloie died on
Aug. 29 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
Police said Ziebart was arrested without incident. His bond
was set at $3 million when he appeared before
Judge David Youck late Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 30.
On Friday, rumors began circulating that Ziebart was out
on bail. Speculation was that he had been
bonded out by a relative in Milford. But Iroquois
County Det. Randy Eimen squelched those rumors effectively
Tuesday morning following the three-day Labor Day holiday.
"Mr. Ziebart is still in jail and he has
never been out of jail since he was arrested."
Eimen said, "I don't know where all those rumors
came from, but there is absolutely no truth to
any of them.
Sunday, September 10, 2000
Suspect indicted in toddler's death
By Jo McCord, Journal writers
as reported in the Daily-Journal
WATSEKA - Kevin Ziebart of Watseka was indicted Friday for
first degree murder in the killing of 2-year-old Kloie VanHoveln
of rural Watseka on Aug. 29.
The very thin Ziebart, 30, appeared in an orange jail uniform,
the shirt torn in the back. He seemed nervous as he
constantly rocked back and forth when standing.
The indictment accuses Ziebart of "beating, shaking and
striking (Kloie's) head and body," said Iroquois County State's
Attorney Mark Thompson. The matter is still under
investigation and police are waiting for a report from the
autopsy surgeon, Thompson said.
Ziebart pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial through his
attorney, Jamie Boyd of Kankakee. Ziebart's appearance was
originally set to argue Thompson's motion to deny the privilege
of posting bond. That matter was continued until 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday at Boyd's request. A pre-trial conference was set
for Oct. 11.
Whenever he had a chance to turn away from the judge's
bench, Ziebart stared at the observers' benches where Kloie's
parents, Paulette Moenck and Billy VanHoveln, both of
Watseka, sat forlornly. Also present were Ziebart's brother-in-
law Fred Heitmann of Milford, sitting next to Rev. Neil Larimore
of Milford Christian Church.
Watseka and Iroquois County police investigating the crime
were present along with several officers from the probation
department.
Afterwards in the courthouse parking area, Kloie's grandfather
Paul Moenck of Milford wiped tears from his eyes as he
declined having pictures taken. He spoke off the record with
Shanell Allen of WCIA-TV in Champaign. He provided her with
a picture of the bubbly child.
Ziebart, a boyfriend of Kloie's mother, brought her to the
emergency room Aug. 29 saying she had fallen. She died that
night at Carle Hospital in Champaign.
Ziebart was arrested Aug. 30 without incident at his part-time
residence on South Fourth Street. His bond was set at $3
million by Judge David Youck. His family is reputed to be
wealthy. Many rumors that he had been bonded out circulated
daily. Thompson filed a petition to revoke bond Tuesday.
To see all new updates please
go to updates 2 or click next
Please keep Kloie's family and friends
in your prayers.
 
Copyright © 2000 The Daily Journal Publishing Co., L.C.C., All Rights Reserved
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