The sister of a Bloomington women murdered almost 25 years ago wants police to re-open the case.

Sitting in front of reporters and Bloomington Police who showed up to listen, Marth Neils blamed her ex-husband, John Lewis, for the murder of her sister Susan Hendricks and Hendricks' three children. Susan's husband David was originally convicted of the 1983 massacre, but in a second trial was acquitted. Neils says she never quit gathering information.

"I have come to the conclusion that David Hendricks hired my then husband John Lewis to murder his family."

Neils says Lewis has confessed to the murders to members of a church he attends in California. However, officials connected to the original investigation say Lewis passed a lie detector test when questioned about the murders.... while David Hendricks refused to take one.

Neils says she simply wants police to interrogate her ex-husband. She says under questioning and pressure he would crack and confess. Police seem more skeptical.

Police at the news conference refused to comment except to say they have received information from Neils. McLean County State's Attorney Bill Yoder says new evidence would have to come to light to open the Hendricks case.

"The new evidence would have to point to another person. David Hendricks could walk in and confess and we could do anything because he's already been tried," said Yoder.

No matter what happens, Neils says she is glad someone is listening to her.

"I just want justice for my sister and those kids."

Bloomington police closed the murder case after Hendricks was acquitted in 1991. In affect saying the real killer got away. Neils says David Hendricks is now living quietly in Orlando, Florida, while the wounds of his murdered family still fester in Central Illinois.

This afternoon a Bloomington police spokesman said investigators have looked into the information provided by Martha Neils and the case remains closed.