Dalton Mesarchik/WJEZ file photo

By Neil Doyle

STREATOR – Illinois State Police are turning to social media in an effort to find more leads in the 2003 death of 7-year old Dalton Mesarchik of Streator.

ISP posted information about the cold case Monday on Facebook . Dalton was snatched from his front yard and was found 24 hours later in the Vermillion River. He was waiting on his porch for a bus to take him to church.

During the initial investigation, led by ISP, the Streator Police Department, and Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, officers found a hammer which was used in the crime. ISP said the agencies have interviewed dozens of people and followed up on hundreds of leads in an attempt to identify the person responsible for Dalton’s murder.

A $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer remains in effect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Illinois State Police – Dalton Mesarchik Task Force by telephone at 1-815-844-1500 (ext.2321) or email at [email protected].

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]