LYONS, Unwell. (AP) — A person suspected of concealing the deaths of his mom and sister almost a 12 months after their our bodies had been discovered buried within the yard of their suburban Chicago home has been arrested on felony fees, officers introduced on Thursday.
Lyons Police Chief Thomas Herion mentioned Michael Lelko, 45, will probably be formally charged with two felony counts of concealment of a dying. He mentioned a federal investigation is also ongoing that would result in federal fees related to his alleged cashing of his mom’s month-to-month $1,000 Social Safety checks for years after she died.
Herion mentioned Lelko was not charged within the deaths of 79-year-old Jean Lelko and 44-year-old Jennifer Lelko, for the reason that health worker’s workplace couldn’t decide how both one died.
Herion mentioned Michael Lelko’s 41-year-old brother stays the topic of an investigation however as of Thursday afternoon he had not been charged. Each had been in custody on Thursday and Herion mentioned if John Lelko was not charged inside 48 hours he could be launched from custody. Herion mentioned John Lelko might face obstruction fees as a result of he initially advised police that his mom and sister had been alive and dwelling elsewhere, despite the fact that he knew they had been each lifeless.
Thursday’s announcement comes about eight months after police found the our bodies within the again yard throughout a well-being test on the residence. Each our bodies had been buried in plastic tubs that had been sealed with duct tape.
Herion mentioned Michael Lelko told police that his mom had died in 2015 after his sister pushed her down the steps and that he buried his sister within the yard in 2019 after she turned sick and died. He mentioned Lelko mentioned the sister had died of COVID-19, although Herion mentioned he didn’t imagine COVID-19 existed in 2019, and Illinois officers have mentioned they imagine the primary COVID-19 dying in Illinois was in March 2020.
“Once I interviewed Michael, he admitted that he buried his mom and his sister within the yard,” Herion mentioned. “John didn’t give any statements pertaining as to if he participated in that.”
Herion mentioned fees weren’t filed for a number of months as a result of the our bodies weren’t positively recognized till this 12 months. Each males, had been taken into custody when the our bodies had been discovered however had been launched with out being charged.
The costs mark the ultimate chapter within the weird story that started with a test of the home, situated in the neighborhood of Lyons, about 14 miles (22.53 kilometers) southwest of Chicago, after it was decided there was no working water. Herion mentioned there have been no operable bathrooms on the house, and several other baggage of urine and feces had been discovered inside.
Herion mentioned gadgets corresponding to Star Wars toys had been stacked as much as the ceiling on the time the our bodies had been discovered, and the house was so cluttered that the brothers climbed out and in via home windows.
It couldn’t be instantly decided if Michael Lelko had retained an legal professional. Messages had been left with the Cook dinner County State’s Legal professional’s workplace and the Lyons Police Division.
