Jan. 05--Bank accounts belonging to Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz and his widow will remain frozen for another month as an investigation into the deceased officer's alleged thefts continues.
Attorneys representing Melodie Gliniewicz, 51, are seeking to overturn a court order freezing several of the family's personal savings and checking accounts. On Tuesday, her attorneys said they agreed to let prosecutors extend the freeze on seven bank accounts through Feb. 2.
About $4,200 from her personal savings was released in November, according to court records. Melodie Gliniewicz was also given access in December to another $33,500, consisting of a paycheck and donations received after the officer's Sept. 1 death, prosecutors said.
In court records released by Gliniewicz's attorneys, an investigator for the Lake County state's attorney's office said both she and her husband "exerted unauthorized control over funds belonging to the Fox Lake Explorer program."
Previously, Gliniewicz's attorneys argued prosecutors failed to prove any wrongdoing and said Gliniewicz would continue cooperating with the investigation involving the frozen accounts.
Joe Gliniewicz ran the Explorer youth policing program prior to his death last fall. It was initially investigated as a homicide, but in November authorities ruled his death a suicide, saying he had staged it to look like a murder amid fears alleged thefts would come to light.
Investigators alleged Gliniewicz had been stealing from the youth group for seven years, and spent the money on vacations, adult websites and other personal expenses.
Some donations sent directly to the family are not part of the bank freeze, as Lake County prosecutors said they had no claim on funds received after Gliniewicz's death. Another account set up to collect donations for Joe Gliniewicz's family in the wake of his death remains frozen, however.
Patrick O'Herlihy, spokesman for BMO Harris Bank, confirmed the funds were still being held but said he could not comment further because of the ongoing investigation.
Det. Christopher Covelli with the Lake County sheriff's office has said that account wasn't frozen at local investigators' request.
No one has been charged in connection with Joe Gliniewicz's alleged misconduct.
lzumbach@tribpub.com
