La Grange Village President Thanks Police for Their Help in O'Laughlin Murder Investigation

La Grange's Village President Elizabeth Asperger began Monday night's Village Board meeting on a somber note. At the board's first regular meeting since 14-year-old , Asperger expressed her sadness and thanked police for their hard work.

"I can't find the words in any way appropriate to express the sadness our community and the communities surrounding us have felt," Asperger said.

Asperger took a moment to thank the La Grange Police Department for the staff and resources they contributed to the investigation of O'Laughlin's murder and said she was touched by the after the teen's body was found in her Indian Head Park home.

Police chief Michael Holub also gave an update to the board on the department's role in the investigation.

According to Holub, La Grange police contributed one investigator to the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, which led the investigation along with Indian Head Park Police and the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Holub said he continues to be amazed at the quality of investigations led by the task force and said the department was hit especially hard by the case emotionally.

"We investigated this as if it was our own family member," Holub told the board.

Holub also reminded the board and residents that cases like this can happen anywhere at anytime, and La Grange was not immune. He added he was continually surprised when residents ask police if they should be locking their doors.

La Grange police held , who has been charged in O'Laughlin's murder, for three days prior to State's Attorney Anita Alverez's announcement that charges had been filed again him.

In a previous conversation with Holub, the police chief told Patch that Wilson was disruptive while being held at the La Grange police department and had damaged one of the department's security cameras during his stay.

Holub said La Grange residents should always take precautions in securing their homes and told residents that police were available to do security assessments.

“We’d be happy to help people those questions and give answers,” Holub said.

Holub said that if residents were planning to be away for an extended period of time, they should cancel newspaper and mail services. Residents should leave lights on and make the home look "lived in" when they are away to deter home invasions.