No Trial Date Yet for Man Accused of Wife's Murder

Another status hearing has been set for later this month in the case of Allan Kustok, 61, who has been accused in the 2010 murder of his estranged wife.

There hasn't been a trial date set yet for Allan Kustok, who has been charged with murder in the 2010 shooting death of Anita "Jeanie" Kustok, officials said Wednesday. "It has been continued to Sept. 28 for status," Andy Conklin, spokesman for the Cook County State's Attorney's office, told Patch. Kustok appeared in a Bridgeview courtroom for a hearing on Aug. 31. He has been in custody on $2 million bail since 2010, inmate records show at the Cook County Department of Corrections. Prosecutors say Kustok put a .357 Magnum to his wife’s head and pulled the trigger on Sept. 29, 2010, inside his Orland Park home. Defense attorney Rick Beuke contended in previous interviews that his client awoke that morning to a gunshot but has declined to …

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State to Finish Pretrial Murder Investigation Against Allan Kustok

A year and a half later, Kustok's defense attorneys will soon begin a pretrial investigation of its own, one that may rely in part on conflicting forensic opinion.

By the time they return to court next month, Cook County prosecutors expect to have a complete picture of what happened Sept. 29, 2010, inside the house next to the horse farm on Royal Oaks Lane. Since Allan Kustok’s arrest for the shooting death of his wife, Jeanie, assistant state’s attorneys and Orland Park detectives have been steadily building a first-degree murder case. Appearing briefly in court on Monday, special prosecutor Jennifer Gonzalez said she was waiting only on a report from a forensic expert, which was supposed to arrive any day by mail, before wrapping up the state’s pretrial discovery. Outside the courtroom, Kustok’s attorney, Rick Beuke, offered no hints regarding the type of experts he is looking to call or the type …

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In the Rear View: Medicare Scam and the Primary Approaches

We look back at a week of candidate forums, life saving techniques, murder case stalling, 9750 financing, wrestling triumph and a not guilty plea to sex charges.

MONDAY Sandburg Basketball Coach Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Abuse Charges An attorney for Steven Reynolds declined to comment about the case following Monday's court hearing. First Bond Sale for 9750 Project Going to Full Village Board The Orland Park Finance Committee decided Monday to put the first bond sale proposal in front of the full board, so they can choose one of two ways to sell, and whether bonds will be sold locally to interested parties. TUESDAY Video: Republican Candidates in 18th Senate and 35th House Districts Have Their Say Candidates for the 18th District State Senate seat and the 35th District State House seat appeared at a forum Monday night. Watch what the Republican candidates had to say. This Week's Pet: A Great …

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Court Watch: Attorneys Discuss Deal for Oak Lawn Man Accused of Beating Girl

In other court news: Restaurant owner pleads not guilty to arson; Orland Square Mall case on the docket.

The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. OAK LAWN — Ed Barron, an attorney defending a 54-year-old man accused of beating and choking a girl, said he will continue negotiating with the state about a possible plea deal before the next pretrial hearing on March 13. Michael T. Kelly, a former Village of Oak Lawn employee, has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery. To give the girl and her family a little “peace of mind,” assistant state’s attorney Kelly Coakley obtained a protection order against Kelly on Tuesday because, she said, the defendant had been caught staring intently at the girl in October. Barron did not challenge the motion or the ruling. Court …

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Jesse Marx

10:21 am on Monday, February 13, 2012

New Lenox Mom, Thanks for the heads up, but our coverage area (southwest Chicago suburbs) does not include Joliet. We would cover a case that occurred in Joliet, however, if the defendant or victim lives or may owns a business in one of our towns.   more ›

Kustok Hearings Continued to March

A year and half later, investigations continue into the death of Allan Kustok's wife, Jeanie.

Pretrial hearings against an Orland Park man charged with murder were continued to March 6 as the state continues to gather evidence. Nearly 16 months ago, in the early hours of a September morning, Allan Kustok brought his wife, Jeanie, to Palos Community Hospital wrapped in a bed sheet with a gunshot wound to her head. He claimed he awoke to a gunshot and found his wife dead, with a pistol in her hand. Orland Park police charged him with first-degree murder. Last month, prosecutors said they were close to wrapping up their case. When presented with all the state's evidence, the defense will be free to begin their own investigation in earnest—one that may rely in part on conflicting forensic opinion.

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Rear View

In the Rear View: Consolidation Doubts and Wrestling Brothers

We look back at a week of drug guidance, court baby steps, bakery opening, cameras in court, big money for cancer research and a disturbing arrest.

MONDAY State Close to Gathering All Evidence Against Allan Kustok Prosecutors are waiting on forensic opinion and reports from the Orland Park Police Department, one year and a half after the alleged murder. Comings & Goings: Orland Park Bakery Sets Moving Date Tinley Park moves ahead with a tax-sharing agreement with Toyota/Scion for sales taxes. The dealership is expected to go through a renovation. TUESDAY Pellegrino Brothers Getting It Done in Lower Weights for Sandburg Wrestling Jim Pellegrino and his brother, John, have teamed up to form a powerful one-two combination for the Sandburg wrestling team in the lower weights. John won the 126-pound title in the Southwest Suburban Conference tournament. Jim placed second at 106. …

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State Close to Gathering All Evidence Against Allan Kustok

Prosecutors are waiting on forensic opinion and reports from the Orland Park Police Department, one year and a half after the alleged murder.

Prosecutors mounting a murder case against Allan Kustok are close to finishing their investigation and freeing the defense to begin work on counter evidence and arguments. Nearly 16 months ago, in the early hours of a September morning, Kustok brought his wife, Jeanie, to Palos Community Hospital wrapped in a bed sheet with a gunshot wound to her head. He claimed he awoke to gunshots and found his wife dead, with a pistol in her hand. Orland Park police charged him with first degree murder. Assistant state’s attorney Jennifer Gonzalez told the court Monday that she’s waiting on a forensic opinion regarding blood splatter. While all the relevant lab work has been completed, outstanding reports from the Orland Park Police Department should …

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Rear View

In the Rear View: Verzbicas’ Running Dream, School Speaking and Community Contributions

We look back at a week of Christmas spirit, check fraud, close driving calls, stuffing choices, volunteering honors and court decisions.

MONDAY College and the Olympics: Best of Both Worlds for Verzbicas Former Sandburg standout Lukas Verzbicas is following a smart path in pursuit of his Olympic dream. Kris Kringle Haus Open Again Thanks to 'Christmas Nuts' Couple Popular and longtime Christmas shop returns to Orland Park for another holiday season. TUESDAY Lone Orland Resident Speaks Out On Lack of Teacher Contract, Walsh Demotion at D135 Meeting The board also approved a tax levy with no increase over the last fiscal year. Who's More Likely to Use Stuffing From a Box? Where does your town rank on the likelihood of using a packaged stuffing mix this Thanksgiving? WEDNESDAY Bare Shelves at the Orland Township Food Pantry Spark Community Response With the pantry in serious …

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Kustok Defense Attorneys Lament Delays in Collection of Evidence

Prosecutors ask for more time to complete testing on blood-spattered evidence gathered from the Kustoks' Orland Park home.

It has been exactly one year since Allan Kustok carried his wife through hospital doors, wrapped in a bed sheet with a gunshot wound to her head, and yet the murder investigation against him remains open—to the dissatisfaction of his attorneys. Kustok is accused of shooting his wife inside their Orland Park home on Sept. 29, 2010. He's charged with first degree murder. Cook County Judge Joseph Hynes agreed last month to let the state conduct DNA testing of blood-spattered evidence taken from the bedroom where Jeanie Kustok was shot. Her husband's defense lawyers protested, fearing the evidence would be destroyed in the process. On Wednesday, assistant state’s attorney Jennifer Gonzalez told Hynes that prosecutors would like to conduct …

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Rear View

In the Rear View: Government Clarity and Places to Call Home

We look back at a week of further Triangle court issues, transparency hits and misses, blood evidence tests, support at Calvary Church, lobbying and feasting.

MONDAY Orland Plaza Tenants Have Until Aug. 30 to File Objections to Settlement Judge Alexander White will hear objections made by tenants’ attorneys, if they are filed, at a hearing in October. One of the main bones of contention is language in the settlement between the village and Orland Plaza landowners that allows the village to walk away from the deal all the way until Feb. 2012. Tenants’ attorneys say that makes it difficult for tenants to sign new leases when they might be stuck with their old space if the village walks. The Taste of Orland Park Dazzles the Community with Food, Music and So Much More Images of the food, festivities and fun during Orland Park’s feasting-focused festival. TUESDAY DNA Testing on Kustok Evidence …

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