CEO of Crestwood trucking company found murdered in fire; police say employee in custody

CRESTWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- The CEO of a suburban trucking company was found killed inside a burning building last week; police said a longtime employee is a suspect.

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On Wednesday at about 4 p.m., police responded to heavy smoke coming from ATG Truckload, located at 13835 S. Kostner Ave., Crestwood police said.

As firefighters extinguished the flames, a body was found in the building.

Dane Koteski, 46, was found dead on the second floor. He was the CEO of ATG Truckload.

His death was ruled a homicide, and Crestwood police began an arson investigation.

"The fire was put out quickly. There was a large amount of smoke. We cleared out the smoke, and the focus became the investigation of the body. Investigators determined the victim was the owner of the company: 46-year-old Dane Koteski. An autopsy later determined Koteski's neck was slashed with a knife," Crestwood Police Chief Kevin Sisk said.

An employee was identified as a suspect. Investigators believe it was a targeted attack.

At about 5:15 a.m. Thursday, the suspect was arrested at a truck stop in Holland, Michigan.

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"They fairly quickly developed a suspect, and then it was later that night, actually the next day about 5:15 a.m., the suspect was taken into custody about 2 1/2 hours away in Holland, Michigan," Sisk said.

The Cook County medical examiner said Koteski died from a stab wound to the neck.

The suspect has not been identified, and will remain in the custody of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office in Michigan on a murder warrant pending extradition back to Illinois.

Friends say Koteski worked in trucking for many years, and was well-loved and very generous. His wife said the family is "devastated."

According to the organizer of a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for his family, including his 13-year-old son, Koteski was well-known in the Serbian community for his kindness and generosity.

Nick Dimitrov worked with Koteski for many years.

"The stuff I learned, I learned from him. He was helping people in the community anywhere he can, one of the well-respected guys in the community," Dimitrov said.

The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force is also involved in the investigation.

It's unclear where the suspect may have been headed, or what his motive for the murder may have been.

"The Holland police who oversaw the operation taking him into custody, they did an outstanding job of finding him and taking him into custody," Sisk said.

Police say the suspect will not fight extradition from Michigan back to Illinois.

Crestwood police say they expect he will be brought back by the end of the week, and first-degree murder charges could be filed shortly after.