Source: Authorities to announce Gliniewicz death believed to be suicide

FOX LAKE, Ill. (WLS) -- Lake County authorities will announce Wednesday that the death of Fox Lake Police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz is believed to be a suicide, a source familiar with the investigation said Tuesday night.

Authorities investigating the 30-year police veteran's death declined comment until a 10 a.m. Wednesday press conference when they said they will announce "significant new information."

The news conference will be streamed live on ABC7Chicago.com.

Gliniewicz was fatally shot on Sept. 1 in a remote industrial area after saying on his radio that he was chasing three male suspects, two whites and one black. His death sparked a massive manhunt, but investigators have not been able to identify those three individuals.

Investigators have said Gliniewicz was shot with his own gun, once in the vest and once in the upper chest. Earlier in the investigation, authorities said gunshot residue tests could not determine if the lieutenant shot himself or was shot by someone else.

For weeks, investigators have been tight-lipped, even admonishing the coroner for suggesting the wounds could be self-inflicted.

In late September, Commander George Filenko, head of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said the case was drawing towards a close.

"We are hoping to come to at least some conclusions in the next several weeks, but the investigation is still moving forward," Cmdr. Filenko told the ABC7 I-Team. "I think what we are looking at here is at least a finding by the coroner's office. I've been in contact with Dr. Rudd, our coroner, continuously, sometimes several times a week discussing the case. We have been working in unison and he has been extremely cooperative."

Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd has not returned requests for comment.

Tuesday night, blue ribbons in honor of Lt. Gliniewicz still line the field where he died.

Marciano Martinez, who lives across the street from that field, has wondered - like many Fox Lake residents -- every day about what happened.

"Every night, my wife and I go for a walk, and the first thing we think about is what really happened. We need to know the answer," Martinez said.