Fox Lake Lt. Gliniewicz Took His Own Life, Sources Say

Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz took his own life on Sept. 1 due to mounting personal and professional problems, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times and Fox Chicago Tuesday night.

Those problems included the fact he was the subject of a police investigation, the sources said.

The task force investigating his death has reviewed all the evidence and reached this conclusion, the sources told Fox Chicago.

A press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday to reveal “significant” new details in the case.

Late Tuesday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement following the Sun-Times and Fox reports.

“One report is claiming to have information about the findings and conclusions of the investigation. We will have no comment on that or other reports until the news conference at 10 a.m. tomorrow. There will be conclusive results of the investigation announced tomorrow,” the statement read.

Lake County Coroner Paul Rudd said in the past week he still was leaning toward a determination of homicide in the death but was awaiting the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to complete a victimology report, according to the Northwest Herald.

Gliniewicz was found shot dead on Sept. 1 after he radioed for backup shortly before 8 a.m. He told dispatch he was investigating three suspicious individuals — two white males and one black. Gliniewicz was shot with his own gun — once in the front right of his vest and once in the upper-left chest.

The shooting prompted a massive manhunt across northern Illinois.

Investigators said evidence showed there was a struggle at the scene, according to WGN TV.

Police have also said gunshot test residue tests could not determine whether the gun was fired by Gliniewicz or someone else.

“That opens the door where we have to look at any possible situation that could create a result,” Lake County Sheriff’s Detective Chris Covelli told the Northwest Herald. “Whenever evidence, physical evidence or evidence we obtain through the investigation or interviews we conduct with individuals that don’t result in definitives, we have to take everything into account.”

Known as “G.I. Joe” to friends and family, the married father of four served in the police department for 30 years and was nearing retirement. He also was a U.S. Army veteran.

As early as Sept. 8, the Lake County coroner raised the possibility that the death could be a suicide. At the time, Rudd questioned whether it would be possible for a killer to get close enough to Gliniewicz to take his life.

“This is an Army man,” Rudd said. “He’s 52, (but) he’s got the body of a 25-year-old. When you’re in the armed forces, obviously, you’re trained how to kill.”

And if Gliniewicz was in a fatal struggle, Rudd suggested the lieutenant would “take somebody with him.”

“He’s going to rip out the guy’s eyes or his throat,” he said.

“This whole thing is getting a little sticky as far as the cause and manner of death,” the coroner said.

The following day, leaders of the task force blasted Rudd for sharing that speculation.

“The coroner should not release sensitive case information while an investigation is still under way, it’s completely irresponsible,” Lake County Undersheriff Raymond Rose said.