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Grand Jury Indicts Widow of Fox Lake Lt. Joe Gliniewicz

Melodie Gliniewicz was indicted on multiple counts of disbursing charitable funds without authority and for personal benefit and money laundering

The wife of disgraced Fox Lake Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz, who authorities say took his own life in a “carefully staged suicide” following years of criminal acts, has been indicted by a grand jury.

Melodie Gliniewicz was indicted Wednesday on multiple counts of disbursing charitable funds without authority and for personal benefit and money laundering.

Investigators said they found inconsistencies in financial documents surrounding the Fox Lake Police Explorer Post managed by Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, where it appeared non-business-related monies were withdrawn and money laundering took place.

According to authorities, Gliniewicz’s widow, Melodie Gliniewicz, was found to hold a “fiduciary role as an adult advisor with the Fox Lake Police Explorer Post.”

The wife of disgraced Fox Lake Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz, who authorities say took his own life in a “carefully staged suicide” following years of criminal acts, has been indicted by a grand jury. NBC 5’s Natalie Martinez reports.

“The investigation revealed money was withdrawn from the police explorer account over the course of several years,” Undersheriff Ray Rose said in a statement. “Detectives determined this money was used to finance a number of personal expenses and personal finances.”

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. 

Following the indictment, a Lake County judge issued an arrest warrant for Melodie Gliniewicz, setting bond at $50,000. Authorities said Wednesday afternoon she was in the custody of the Lake County Sheriff's office. 

The wife of disgraced Fox Lake Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz, who authorities say took his own life in a “carefully staged suicide” following years of criminal acts, has been indicted by a grand jury. NBC 5’s Natalie Martinez reports.

“Fox Lake, all of Lake County, and quite frankly the entire country have been through a mix of emotions throughout the Gliniewicz investigations,” Sheriff Mark Curran said in a statement. “It is my hope the community can continue healing and rebuilding.”

Melodie Gliniewicz's attorney said she has "suffered greatly over the past few months."

"Considering Melodie’s cooperation with law enforcement, she is devastated by the decision to bring charges against her," a statement from Kelleher & Buckley, LLC read. "Melodie is a victim of her husband’s secret actions and looks forward to her day in Court to show the world her innocence."

Last year, authorities froze several of the Gliniewicz family's bank accounts as investigators worked to untangle the scandal that led Gliniewicz to take his own life in September. 

In an affidavit seeking the freeze on the family’s accounts, prosecutors accused Joseph Gliniewicz of looting an Explorer Scout account of thousands of dollars, to pay for, among other things, a trip to Hawaii, hormone supplements, and fees on adult websites. And their motion carried strong suggestions, that Gliniewicz’s wife was a party to the malfeasance.

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