IL officer's death that spurred a manhunt ruled a suicide

[jeaniebueller]

What a bizarre turn of events.

www.freep.com/story/news/2015/11/03/illinois-police-officer-gliniewicz-manhunt-suicide/75132126/

Investigators are expected to announce Wednesday that the September shooting death of a police officer in a quiet town north of Chicago that spurred a massive manhunt was in fact a suicide, according to multiple reports.

Fox Lake Police officer Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, whose death authorities had been treating as a homicide since he was found dead on Sept. 1, died of self-inflicted wounds, Fox 32 Chicago and WLS-TV report.

Both outlets cited anonymous sources as saying that the death would be ruled a suicide .

The Lake County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that they would announce "conclusive results of the investigation" on Wednesday morning, but declined to comment on the reports.

Investigators said at the time of Gliniewicz's death that he was patrolling in an industrial area in Fox Lake, near the Illinois-Wisconsin border, when he radioed dispatch to say that he was going to check on suspicious activity he had spotted.

He described the suspects as two white men and a black man to dispatchers. Gliniewiciz called for backup, saying he was in a foot chase, but was not heard from again.

Officers responding to his call found his body. An intense manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officials failed to produce any arrests or identify the suspects. Authorities viewed surveillance video from several homes and businesses in the area and had said they hoped to develop clues that would lead them to the suspects.The manhunt disrupted train service and school in the area was cancelled on the day following the shooting as officers went about hunting for three men.

Here are images from last month's manhunt:
Days after Gliniewicz's death, Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd said he couldn't rule out suicide as a possible cause of the officer's death. About a month after he died, investigators said he'd been shot once in his protective vest and once in the upper left area of his torso.

But until now, investigators continued to treat the case as a homicide investigation
Gov. Bruce Rauner and hundreds of police officers from across the nation were among thousands who paid their respects to Gliniewicz at a viewing and funeral service.

Gliniewicz had been an officer for more than 30 years and was nearing retirement at the time of his death.

[zelda25]

I don't understand how suicide would not be immediately apparent, if that's what it was.

[shauni27]

so he was shot in the chest essentially twice, once on his vest? That seems like a weird place to shoot yourself if you are trying to kill yourself, no?

[MrsAxilla]

Nov 4, 2015 10:47:50 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

Nov 4, 2015 10:33:55 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

so he was shot in the chest essentially twice, once on his vest? That seems like a weird place to shoot yourself if you are trying to kill yourself, no?

I keep wondering if he was suicidal but the family will get more benefits if he dies on in the line of duty vs. suicide. This whole situation is just so sad.

Oh, interesting.  That might explain why he said he was chasing suspects.

[aurademystere]

link

I can't C&P the article, but officials are calling it a "carefully staged suicide." The investigation also found that the officer stole thousands of dollars from a youth program.

[josieposy]

Well that might shut up the "COVER UP!" folks a bit.

[jeaniebueller]

Wow.....you know that they probably suspected this right away but had to treat it as a manhunt under the circumstances. Geez....

[downtoearth]

This is crazy. I mean, if you're found laundering money, is that worth your life? I guess in his case, he felt that it was. And I'm amazed that he shot himself in the chest - twice. What a terrible way to die.

The sad part is that it still all came out - the laundering and also the fake homicide, so his family is still harmed by both of these instead of just the laundering of money and still having him around.

[debatethis]

Nov 4, 2015 11:49:20 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Well that might shut up the "COVER UP!" folks a bit.

It's not. Now they're crying collusion between the dept/state/federal agencies to assist in the coverup. Denial and hero worship are strong 'round these parts (I live about 10 miles from there).

[shauni27]

Nov 4, 2015 11:54:06 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

This is crazy. I mean, if you're found laundering money, is that worth your life? I guess in his case, he felt that it was. And I'm amazed that he shot himself in the chest - twice. What a terrible way to die.

The sad part is that it still all came out - the laundering and also the fake homicide, so his family is still harmed by both of these instead of just the laundering of money and still having him around.

All of this.  My first thought was how horrible this was for a way to die.  My second thought was about his poor family.

[josieposy]

Nov 4, 2015 12:29:24 GMT -5 debatethis said:

Nov 4, 2015 11:49:20 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Well that might shut up the "COVER UP!" folks a bit.

It's not. Now they're crying collusion between the dept/state/federal agencies to assist in the coverup. Denial and hero worship are strong 'round these parts (I live about 10 miles from there).

Occam's Razor at work there.