2005-03-10 Lefkow tie to suicide is probed [MURDERER NOT CREATOR]

[PatTracy]

Lefkow tie to suicide is probed

Chicago Tribune (IL) - March 10, 2005
A man who shot himself in the head after a traffic stop in Wisconsin on Wednesday was found wearing a suicide note that included an admission that he shot Judge Joan Lefkow's husband and mother, investigators handling the case said.

Members of the task force of Chicago police and federal agents said they were investigating whether the man was responsible for the deaths of the judge's family last week.

Lt. Chuck Padgett of the West Allis Police Department confirmed that a man pulled over in a van for a taillight problem shot himself in the head about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Members of the task force and federal agents said the man shot himself as officers approached the car. Officials said the claims in the note included details in the case not made public.

Shells from a .22-caliber weapon were found in the car, and three casings of the same caliber were found in Lefkow's home.

Officials had considered a possible tie to white supremacist Matthew Hale , whom Judge Lefkow ruled against. But sources close to the case said they were investigating whether the judge had ruled in a civil case against the man who killed himself.

He was not immediately thought to have ties to hate groups.

Officials said the note seemed to indicate the man had suffered because of the judgment, which may have cost him "his house, his job and family," one source said.
Edition: Chicago Final
Section: News
Page: 1
Index Terms: PROBE ; CHICAGO ; FEDERAL ; OFFICIAL ; FAMILY ; MURDER ; SUICIDE ; WISCONSIN
Record Number: CTR0503100294
Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune Company. All rights reserved.