LYONS, Unwell. (AP) — A person suspected of concealing the deaths of his mom and sister just about a 12 months after their our bodies had been discovered buried within the yard in their suburban Chicago area has been arrested on criminal fees, officers introduced on Thursday.
Lyons Police Leader Thomas Herion stated Michael Lelko, 45, might be officially charged with two criminal counts of concealment of a dying. He stated a federal investigation is also ongoing that might result in federal fees hooked up to his alleged cashing of his mom’s per month $1,000 Social Safety tests for years after she died.
Herion stated Lelko used to be now not charged within the deaths of 79-year-old Jean Lelko and 44-year-old Jennifer Lelko, for the reason that scientific examiner’s place of job may just now not decide how both one died.
Herion stated Michael Lelko’s 41-year-old brother stays the topic of an investigation however as of Thursday afternoon he had now not been charged. Each had been in custody on Thursday and Herion stated if John Lelko used to be now not charged inside of 48 hours he could be launched from custody. Herion stated John Lelko may just face obstruction fees as a result of he to begin with informed police that his mom and sister had been alive and residing in different places, although he knew they had been each useless.
Thursday’s announcement comes about 8 months after police found out the our bodies within the again backyard all over a well-being test on the place of dwelling. Each our bodies have been buried in plastic tubs that have been sealed with duct tape.
Herion stated Michael Lelko informed police that his mom had died in 2015 after his sister driven her down the steps and that he buried his sister within the backyard in 2019 after she become sick and died. He stated Lelko stated the sister had died of COVID-19, although Herion stated he didn’t consider COVID-19 existed in 2019, and Illinois officers have stated they consider the primary COVID-19 dying in Illinois used to be in March 2020.
“Once I interviewed Michael, he admitted that he buried his mom and his sister within the backyard,” Herion stated. “John didn’t give any statements pertaining as to whether he participated in that.”
Herion stated fees weren’t filed for a number of months since the our bodies weren’t definitely known 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 overall bankruptcy within the peculiar tale that started with a test of the home, situated locally of Lyons, about 14 miles (22.53 kilometers) southwest of Chicago, after it used to be decided there used to be no operating water. Herion stated there have been no operable bathrooms on the house, and a number of other luggage of urine and feces had been discovered inside of.
Herion stated pieces comparable to Big name Wars toys had been stacked as much as the ceiling on the time the our bodies had been discovered, and the house used to be so cluttered that the brothers climbed out and in thru home windows.
It would now not be straight away decided if Michael Lelko had retained an legal professional. Messages had been left with the Cook dinner County State’s Lawyer’s place of job and the Lyons Police Division.