Kustok Case Plods on As Home Goes Into Foreclosure

As Allan Kustok’s court case in the shooting death of his wife remains stalled since November, a Frankfort bank filed a suit to foreclose on the family’s house.

A new judge may be presiding over Allan Kustok’s court proceedings, but the case isn’t any closer to trial. In the second court hearing for the Kustok murder case under Judge John J. Hynes, no further evidence was entered and a June date was selected for the next appearance. Defense attorneys for Kustok, 60, said they are still waiting for the state to turn over evidence for discovery–the initial phase of a criminal court case. “We’d like to prepare our defense for a trial, but the state keeps dragging their feet,” said defense attorney Rick Beuke. Each court date since Kustok entered a not guilty plea for the murder charge against him on Nov. 18, 2010, has ended with a new court date and few exchanges in words and evidence between the …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Surveillance of Kustok Arriving at Hospital Entered as Evidence

As the court case for Allan Kustok, charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife, enters its sixth month, a DVD of surveillance video from Palos Community Hospital has been added to the case file.

Evidence has finally been exchanged, six months after Allan Kustok was first accused of shooting his wife, Anita “Jeanie” Kustok. A DVD with surveillance footage taken at Palos Community Hospital on the morning of Sept. 29 was entered into Kustok’s case file. After a brief court hearing Monday morning, Kustok’s defense attorney Rick Beuke said the DVD is a start, but he is still waiting to see police reports made shortly after Kustok was charged with one count of first-degree murder. "The DVD is the only other thing we have received,” Beuke said. “We are still waiting on the police reports, and we’re not sure why after six months. We’re hoping we can get this moving and set a trial date." Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Baba Wawa

5:53 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2011

John, this isn't Law & Order. Speedy trial rules do apply -- only if the defendant demands trial. So far, the defendant has demanded trial and won't demand trial because they don't have all the discovery. A defendant isn't going to demand trial when they don't have all the discovery from the State. But there ARE witnesses to interview; i.e., police officers, detectives, doctors, the medical …   more ›

Kustok Case Stalled While Evidence is Gathered

The court case for an Orland Park man accused of shooting his wife moves to another date without progress.

Allan Kustok looked back at his daughter Sarah and smiled briefly before turning to face Judge David Sterba in Courtroom 101. But 59-year-old Kustok’s smile was the only different aspect to Friday’s court date at the Bridgeview Courthouse. All the court hearings since he pleaded not guilty in November to one count of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife Anita “Jeanie” Kustok have ended with continuances. Despite informing the court on Jan. 21 that police reports relating to the case were in the hands of her office, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Gonzalez said Friday that evidence is still being gathered. “We are waiting on police reports and other labs,” Gonzalez said during the hearing. Rick Beuke, …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

Editor's View

The Rundown, Nov. 14 – 20: Tax Fury and Kustok Pleads Innocence

We take a look back at irate taxpayers, an expected yet still important moment in an ongoing case and coverage of the devastating fire in Oak Lawn.

Benjamin Franklin once said only death and taxes are certain in life. Orland Township homeowners shared the pains of one of those certainties this week, when the 2009 tax bills were received. Hundreds of people were shocked by the increased bills - some listing over $1,000 more to pay than the last. Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly explained that efforts were made locally to relieve taxes, but the Cook County's multiplier made bills higher than before. Two ongoing stories involved the other certainty Franklin described. On Thursday, Allan Kustok formally expressed his innocence for the murder charge against him in the shooting death of his wife Anita "Jeanie" Kustok. His children, Zak and Sarah Kustok, pledged to stand by their father …

• Photos (1)

Allan Kustok Indicted for Murder in Wife's Death

Orland Park man appears in shackles before a Cook County judge Monday. His family maintains its support, Kustok's lawyer says.

Allan Kustok stared at the ground in Courtroom 103 Monday morning as he was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the killing of his wife Anita "Jeanie" Kustok. The Orland Park man's only words were an alert "yes, your honor" after his next court date was set for Nov. 18, when a plea is expected to be entered. The 59-year-old Kustok arrived unshaven, wearing glasses and shackles. He did not once look back at his son Zak, who was in the courtroom. Judge Raymond Jagielski agreed on the next court date with defense attorney Rick Beuke and Cook County assistant state's attorney Jennifer Gonzalez shortly after the hearing started. "We are waiting for discovery in the case to try to understand the theories the prosecution will employ," …

• Photos (3)