George Filenko of the task force said during a news conference Wednesday morning.
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Expenditures that included the crooked cop using stolen funds to pay off personal loans, a home mortgage, gym memberships, travel along with visits to illicit websites.
One hint came when the Lake County coroner, Dr. Thomas Rudd, announced that Gliniewicz was killed by a “single devastating” shot to his chest, and that he couldn’t rule out suicide or an accident.
Gliniewicz’s “ongoing criminal activity” was revealed by analysis of his text messages and financial records, officials said.
Authorities on Wednesday provided reporters with several pages of transcripts of deleted text messages discussing his scheme that investigators recovered from Gliniewicz’s cellphone. “In fact, he was under increasing levels of personal stress from scrutiny of his management of the Fox Lake Police Explorer program”, Filenko said. There were awful rumors. “I don’t know the truth”.
“Officials didn’t comment further on the other two people involved – but sources tell WGN “Individual 1″ and Individual 2” listed in the transcript of those text messages released by officials are Melodie Gliniewicz and D.J. Gliniewicz. “I can’t answer that question”. It led to a massive manhunt. The swampy terrain was otherwise undisturbed, and his gun wasn’t found for more than an hour, even though it was less than three feet from the body, Filenko said. In October, examiners said that the 52-year-old officer had been executed with his own weapon.
Gliniewicz, who was experienced in setting up mock crime scenes, left a staged trail of police equipment, including pepper spray, a baton and his glasses, to mislead investigators and emergency workers into believing there had been a homicide, Filenko said.
Others were more insistent that Gliniewicz did not stage his own death and his killers remain on the loose. When asked about the manhunt and length of the investigation, Filenko said “all possible death scenarios were considered”.
Investigators said Wednesday that Gliniewicz elaborately staged the scene to make it appear he had been slain while pursuing suspects.
The backups arrived about 8 a.m. and a few minutes later found Gliniewicz dead.
At the Lagoon Lounge, Naile Hasane, 76, peered at the news on a nearby television. “He betrayed a profession that is sworn to uphold the law”. “It’s a complete betrayal”, Filenko said.
Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz. We uncovered that deception. I looked up to him.
Gliniewicz was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time he was shot, according to two law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. His family released a statement through an Illinois law firm that did not directly respond to what investigators announced and asked for privacy as they continue to mourn. A fundraiser planned for the Gliniewicz family Friday night at Antioch High School weas canceled.
Members of the lieutenant’s family, who have insisted he did not kill himself, could not immediately be reached for comment. He had too many things going for him. Many said they feel betrayed that his staged death spread fear, perpetrated fraud, and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to investigate. “Shock. Everybody’s in shock”.
Still, 24-year-old Ashley Scott said there are a number of people in Fox Lake who don’t believe the officer killed himself. “It was unbelievable. My gosh, G.I. Joe went from a hero to a criminal”. That’s where she said Gliniewicz gave her a box of chocolates, rubbed her shoulders and pressured her to perform oral sex. His funeral was widely attended and he was buried as a hero officer.
A statement Wednesday from the attorneys for the Gliniewicz family said: “Today has been another day of deep sorrow for the Gliniewicz family”.
Schmit, who said Gliniewicz had been his close friend for three decades, told the AP on Wednesday that he knew nothing of the allegations. “No. None at all”.
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“We didn’t see any signs of trauma to the hands, or anything that would indicate that there was a struggle physically”. “We conducted a thorough investigation with the support of the FBI and other agencies who worked in lockstep with us by providing us support and all of this information that ultimately led to this conclusion”.
