Widow of Disgraced Illinois Cop Joe Gliniewicz Indicted

Melodie Gliniewicz booking photo via Lake County Sheriff’s OfficeWAUKEGAN, Ill.

Melodie Gliniewicz, 51, turned herself in at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office when she learned of the grand jury indictment, said Detective Christopher Covelli, a sheriff’s office spokesman.

“Melodie has suffered greatly over the past few months and continues to move her family forward after the emotionally traumatizing events of September 1, 2015”, the attorneys said in statement.

– Saturday, Sept. 12: Former Chicago police officer Joseph A. Battaglia is charged with a felony for allegedly threatening the Lake County coroner and investigators unless they categorized Gliniewicz’s death as a suicide. His death that appeared to be a homicide triggered a massive manhunt but in November authorities announced that Gliniewicz had killed himself after realizing his scheme was about to be discovered by authorities killed himself.

Investigators say over the course of several years Melodie and her deceased husband, Fox Lake Police Lt., Joe Gliniewiecz, 52, embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from the Fox Lake Explorer Post-the young adult “police academy” the duo ran and were widely praised for.

Gliniewicz maintained her innocence, with her lawyers releasing a statement deflecting the blame on her husband.

Hundreds of local, state and federal officers searched for suspects in his killing for days and mourners packed a funeral for Gliniewicz, a 30-year veteran of the department who was known as “G.I”.

Those personal expenses included a trip to Hawaii, payments to businesses such as Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Fox Lake Theatre, and over 400 restaurant charges, officials said. His wife, Melodie Gliniewicz, was indicted by a grand jury on felony counts of money laundering and misuse of the charitable funds her husband stole.

“This entire matter has been a sad and tragic saga for the Village of Fox Lake”, said Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim.

On April 14, a anxious Gliniewicz and his wife exchange messages about money, a retirement date and whether someone, presumably new village administrator Anne Marrin, had the authority to conduct a review of village finances. George Filenko said at the time.