The Latest: Official says cop who killed self sought to have village administrator killed

FOX LAKE, Ill. – The latest developments in the investigation into the September shooting death of an Illinois police officer (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

An official says an Illinois police officer who killed himself tried to arrange for a gang member “to put a hit” on a village administrator because he feared she would discover he had been embezzling money.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Christopher Covelli also said Thursday that investigators found packets of cocaine in Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz’s desk after his Sept. 1 death.

Covelli says investigators recovered deleted text messages in which Gliniewicz mentioned the possibility of planting something on the administrator, Anne Marrin, although he says they don’t know if that’s why he had the cocaine.

Covelli says Gliniewicz sent the text about arranging the hit to a woman last April, asking for help arranging a meeting with a high-ranking gang member. He declined to give her name.

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8:25 a.m.

An official says the wife and son of an Illinois police lieutenant who killed himself during a probe of the youth program he ran are also under criminal investigation.

The official, who was briefed on the investigation, told The Associated Press’s Don Babwin Thursday that it centres on the Fox Lake Police Explorer Post from which Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz allegedly stole thousands of dollars over the course of seven years.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.

He said Gliniewicz’s wife, Melodie, and son D.J. are caught up in the probe. Melodie Gliniewicz took part in the Explorer program. D.J. Gliniewicz has angrily dismissed suggestions that his father took his own life.

The Associated Press has left voicemail and email messages seeking comment from an attorney for the family.

Authorities revealed the embezzlement investigation Wednesday and confirmed weeks of suspicion that Gliniewicz killed himself and staged the scene to look like he died in the line of duty.