The Illinois police officer whose death sparked a huge manhunt in September had staged his suicide as an elaborate cover-up for embezzlement, Commander George Filenko of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force announced at a press conference Wednesday. Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz was found dead on Sept. 1 about 150 feet from his squad car near the small Illinois town of Fox Lake, after he radioed in that he was in pursuit of three "suspicious subjects." His death led to a manhunt that lasted for weeks and led to concerns about a rise in violence against police officers. Filenko said that the veteran officer had been embezzling money for seven years from the police department's youth mentorship program, which he led.
"There are no winners here," Filenko said. "Gliniewicz committed the ultimate betrayal to the citizens he served."
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