The Director of the Murray Developmental Center has turned in his resignation to return to the Illinois Department of Corrections where he will serve as Assistant Warden at the Centralia Correctional Center.
Jeff Wehking left the position as business manager at the Centralia Correctional Center in February to take the Murray position. Wehking had previously worked in administrative capacities at Murray Center.
Wehking deferred immediate comment on his decision to return to the Department of Corrections. He will be changing positions around December 1st.
The President of the Murray Parents Association Rita Winkeler says Wehking will be missed.
“We’re very disappointed and very sad. We were really pleased with the leadership of Jeff and the direction he was moving the center. We were finally got past COVID and he could get some things finished. We understand he feels the need to go to the prison but we are really going to miss him. With everything going on at Murray, with the lack of staff and the slow hiring it’s really in a situation where we really need a strong director and we hope that is the way the state will go. We have not heard anything yet about a director coming in.”
The Illinois Department of Human Services is currently in search of a new director for Murray.
Retired Director Lori Demijan says she is still under contract to assist in transition at the center and will be available to help on a limited part-time basis. An interim director is expected to be named to serve until a new director is appointed.
