08302015 - News Article - Soderquists contend money legitimately owed them

Soderquists contend money legitimately owed them

NWI Times

August 30, 2015

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/soderquists-contend-money-legitimately-owed-them/article_14af4db7-8502-5af8-9852-79e95ae5cc2a.html

HAMMOND| Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife are expected to contend money taken from his campaign fund and the city's food pantry were reimbursement for money owed to them.

Soderquist and his wife, Deborah, are set to go on trial Monday in U.S. District Court in Hammond on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, and three counts of false filing. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines on each wire fraud charge.

The Soderquists are represented by defense attorney Scott King and Lakeisha Murdaugh. King has said earlier that the government "got it wrong" in regard to charges against the couple.

The government's indictment against the couple alleges that between spring 2010 and December 2012, the Soderquists were improperly taking funds from the campaign fund and food pantry fund at the same time they were losing $104,000 at region casinos.

In a three-year span, the couple are alleged to have taken $18,500 from the election campaign account before going gambling at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Mich.

The indictment contends the pair at one point in July 2011 had a check issued from the city of Lake Station to the Food Pantry account. Later, $300 was withdrawn from the account and about two hours later the pair were allegedly gambling at Four Winds Casino.

The Lake Station Food Pantry, designed to serve the needy around Lake Station, received private donations as well as donations from the city and the Indiana Department of Health.

In proposed jury instructions submitted by the government, prosecutors suggest the jury be told the defendants' intent to return money to the campaign committee or food pantry is not a defense to the wire fraud charges. 

In defense objections to that portion of the proposed jury instructions, King contends that the "defendants are unaware of any evidence ... that would suggest that the defendants had any intent to return money to either the food bank or the campaign committee. Rather, the defendants have asserted and at trial will assert that any money they received was reimbursement for personal funds they had previously advanced on behalf of those entities and was not at any time illegally obtained."

In a later objection, King said evidence has been provided to the government by the defense that the Soderquists obtained and maintained receipts for advances of personal monies for which they later were reimbursed.

Keith Soderquist has served as mayor since 2008. Despite the indictment, he ran for a third term this year but was defeated in the Democratic primary. His wife served as his administrative assistant and was also allegedly involved in the operation of the Food Pantry. She also served as treasurer of her husband's election campaign committee.

The couple are also scheduled to stand trial in November along with the mayor's stepdaughter, Miranda Brakley, on separate charges. In that case, they are accused of knowing Brakley took at least $5,000 from the Lake Station City Court and helping to prevent her apprehension by police. King has denied they committed any criminal act in this case as well.

08312015 - News Article - Soderquist trial delayed a day

Soderquist trial delayed a day

Post-Tribune

August 31, 2015

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-soderquist-trial-at-0901-20150831-story.html

Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist's trial was delayed Monday after not enough potential jurors showed up.

Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, were supposed to go on trial on charges that they used money from his campaign re-election fund and money meant for the Lake Station Food Pantry to pay for gambling trips during the past several years.

They have pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false income tax return.

However, the trial was called for the day by 10 a.m. after not enough people arrived in order to select a full jury. The trial will reconvene Tuesday.

It's expect to last four to five days. Federal attorneys have said that records show the Soderquists withdrew money from the campaign and food pantry accounts within 24 hours of visiting Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan on numerous occasions.

They also argue the couple lost more than $100,000 from gambling and had already withdrawn money from their retirement accounts and wracked up more than $30,000 in credit card debt.

They're also both charged in second case involving Deborah Soderquist's daughter, Miranda Brakley, who is charged with stealing money from the city when she worked there as a city clerk and then lying on her bankruptcy filing.

All three have pled not guilty in that case, which is set to go to trial in November.

08312015 - News Article - UPDATE: Soderquist trial delayed

UPDATE: Soderquist trial delayed

NWI Times

August 31, 2015

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station/soderquists-arrive-for-start-of-trial-on-wire-fraud-charges/article_b9df229c-b600-5f96-b327-11e7620a5926.html

HAMMOND | The trial of Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife, Deborah, was delayed a day Monday because of concerns about the small size of the jury pool.

Soderquist and his wife arrived at U.S. District Court shortly before 8 a.m. Monday to stand trial on charges of using campaign and food pantry money to gamble at local casinos.

The couple face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, and three counts of false filing. If convicted they face up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines on each wire fraud charge. The pair are expected to contend money taken from his campaign fund and the city's food pantry were reimbursement for money owed to them.

The trial is expected to last about a week.

The Soderquists are represented by defense attorney Scott King and Lakeisha Murdaugh. King has said earlier that the government "got it wrong" in regard to charges against the couple.

The government's indictment against the couple alleges that between spring 2010 and December 2012, the Soderquists were improperly taking funds from the campaign fund and food pantry fund at the same time they were losing $104,000 at region casinos.

In a three-year span, the couple are alleged to have taken $18,500 from the election campaign account before going gambling at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Mich.

The indictment contends the pair at one point in July 2011 had a check issued from the city of Lake Station to the Food Pantry account. Later, $300 was withdrawn from the account and about two hours later the pair were allegedly gambling at Four Winds Casino. The Lake Station Food Pantry, designed to serve the needy around Lake Station, received private donations as well as donations from the city and the Indiana Department of Health.

In proposed jury instructions submitted by the government, prosecutors suggest the jury be told the defendants intent to return money to the campaign committee or food pantry is not a defense to the wire fraud charges.

In defense objections to that portion of the proposed jury instructions, King contends that the "defendants are unaware of any evidence ... that would suggest that the defendants had any intent to return money to either the food bank or the campaign committee. Rather, the defendants have asserted and at trial will assert that any money they received was reimbursement for personal funds they had previously advanced on behalf of those entities and was not at any time illegally obtained."

In a later objection, King said that evidence has been provided to the government by the defense that the Soderquists obtained and maintained receipts for advances of personal monies for which they later were reimbursed.

Keith Soderquist has served as mayor since 2008. Despite the indictment, he ran for a third term this year but was defeated in the Democratic primary. His wife served as his administrative assistant and was also allegedly involved in the operation of the Food Pantry. She also served as treasurer of her husband's election campaign committee.

The couple is also scheduled to stand trial in November along with the mayor's stepdaughter, Miranda Brakley, on separate charges. In that case, they are accused of knowing Brakley took at least $5,000 from the Lake Station City Court and helping to prevent her apprehension by police. King has denied they committed any criminal act in this case as well.

08292015 - News Article - Northwestern Indiana mayor facing trial on fraud charges

Northwestern Indiana mayor facing trial on fraud charges

Washington Times

Associated Press 

Saturday, August 29, 2015

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/29/northwestern-indiana-mayor-facing-trial-on-fraud-c/

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - The mayor of a northwestern Indiana city is set to go to trial over federal charges alleging that he and his wife took more than $20,000 from his campaign account in order to cover casino gambling losses.

Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife Deborah Soderquist are charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and filing false tax returns. The trial is scheduled to begin Monday.

Prosecutors say in court filings that the couple made more than 40 ATM withdrawals from the mayor’s campaign fund within 24 hours of their visits to casinos from 2010 to 2012. Prosecutors contend the couple lost more than $160,000 at casinos during a six-year period ending in 2013, The (Munster) Times and the (Merrillville) Post-Tribune reported.

Federal prosecutors plan to present receipts that the couple gave to investigators that supposedly explained how money from the mayor’s campaign fund was used, but they say those receipts were an attempt to hide that they had used it on gambling trips.

“The defendants held out the Campaign Committee to donors as one thing - a fund meant to help re-elect Mayor Soderquist - and treated the Campaign Committee money completely at odds with that representation,” prosecutors said in court documents.

Defense attorney Scott King has said Keith Soderquist might be responsible for sloppy reporting of campaign finances, but that he and his wife did nothing illegal.

King, who was once mayor of Gary, said the couple’s withdrawals were reimbursements to themselves for political expenses and that no fraud occurred.

Keith Soderquist has remained mayor of the 13,000-person city just east of Gary since he and his wife were indicted in April 2014. He was first elected mayor in 2008 but was badly beaten in May’s Democratic primary, ending his bid for a third term.

The mayor and his wife each face one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false income tax return.

The jury trial in U.S. District Court in Hammond is expected to last four to five days.

08282015 - News Article - Police body cameras not the focus in Porter County

Police body cameras not the focus in Porter County

Amy Lavalley

Post-Tribune

August 28, 2015 - 9:56PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-porter-body-cameras-st-0827-20150828-story.html#nt=related-content

More than a year after highly publicized claims of police brutality began to unfold across the nation, law enforcement officials in Porter County are grappling with whether to purchase body cameras because of the expense of storing the data, among other concerns.

The Porter County Sheriff's Department purchased three cameras, known as body cams, about a year ago, though the timing was coincidental and not tied to events on the national scene, an official there said. The Portage and Valparaiso departments are still considering the matter.

"This has been a topic. We've talked to the sheriff about where does the money come from. Are there grants we can get?" said Jeff Biggs, commander of the sheriff's department. "There's a cost to even storing all the data."

The department wants to involve Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel in developing a policy for when officers should turn the cameras on and how long to store the data, but that discussion hasn't started because officials aren't sure the sheriff's department has the funding to purchase the cameras.

The department tried a few body cams out and some were bulky but more durable, while streamlined models were not as durable, Biggs said. The department purchased three of the bulkier ones about a year ago for $900 apiece.

The cameras sit in the center of an officer's chest and are turned on by a push button on the officer's belt. The cameras go on during traffic stops, warrant arrests and domestic violence calls – times when officers might be most vulnerable.

"Right now our guys have the discretion to turn the cameras on and off," Biggs said. The data is being stored on the external hard drives of two computers and none of the data is being deleted because it's only from three cameras.

If the department were to outfit all 45 of its patrol officers with body cams, Biggs said, it would have to come up with a better data storage plan.

Data storage also was an issue when the department had dashboard cameras in patrol cars, though those were vulnerable to extreme temperatures because much of the equipment was mounted in the cars' trunks. Potholes and rough railroad tracks also shook things up, making them prone to breakdowns, Biggs said.

The body cams are more durable and the department is looking into cloud storage for the data.

"This is something we plan on outfitting more officers with. It's a matter of funding," and coming up with a policy on usage and data storage, Biggs said.

The body cams offer a broader picture, literally, of what's going on, and officers can return to the station and easily view a digital recording of a call, Biggs said. "It's just about watching technology and what tools can help us do our job."

The Valparaiso Police Department has not made a decision on whether to go with body cams, said Sgt. Michael Grennes, that department's public information officer.

"We currently are not using them. We have looked into them and are still in the process of determining what we are going to do," he said. "We have tested them briefly with officers, but at this time we do not have any."

Myriad considerations go into deciding whether to purchase the cameras, said Portage Police Chief Troy Williams. Those include how to pay for them and maintenance costs; who gets them; chain of custody; privacy issues; how well the cameras record; and whether the department wants them for training, to check adherence to procedures, or because of complaints about use of force.

"For a department that routinely gets use-of-force complaints and is distrusted by their community, cameras would likely be a way to help some of that," he said. "We do not have those complaints and I believe we have a great relationship with our community."

His department had dashboard cameras about 10 years ago but had the same problems with them that the sheriff's department had. Body cams are something the department might look into for the future, he said, but they're not an imminent concern.

"There's a lot of factors the general public wouldn't necessarily know about that need to be researched," he said.

08282015 - News Article - Lake Station mayor's corruption trial to start Monday

Lake Station mayor's corruption trial to start Monday

Post-Tribune

August 28, 2015 - 10:50 AM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-soderquist-trial-preview-st-0830-20150828-story.html

Lake Station mayor's corruption trial expected to last four to five days

Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist will join a long list of Lake County politicians Monday as he goes on trial on public corruption charges.

The trial will start with jury selection after Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, were charged in April 2014 in the U.S. District Court in Hammond with using money from his campaign's re-election committee and the Lake Station Food Pantry to fund dozens of trips to a casino. Federal attorneys have charged them both with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of lying on their income tax returns.

Both have pled not guilty in the case.

According to court records, the trial is expected to last four to five days. Attorneys for the Soderquists could not be reached for comment.

U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano said during a hearing Tuesday that he expects the trial to start around 8:30 a.m. and last until about 5 p.m. each day.

Federal attorneys in the case have said they'll present evidence that the Soderquists withdrew money from his campaign committee and food bank accounts at ATMs within 24 hours of making visits to local casinos. They also claim the couple lost more than $100,000 at the casinos during the past few years and had already taken more than $30,000 out of retirement accounts.

No matter the outcome of the trial, Soderquist will not be in office for much longer. He lost his bid for another term in office to challenger former Lake Station Judge Christopher Anderson in the primary election in May.

Soderquist will be the first Lake County elected official to go to trial since former Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot did in 2012, when a jury convicted him of paying himself money meant for other county employees. However, several other politicians have been charged and pled guilty in between, including then-Lake County Surveyor George Van Til, who's serving an 18-month prison sentence after admitting he used his office and employees to help run his re-election campaigns, and Marilyn Krusas, the former Gary City Councilwoman who admitted she tried to hide money from the IRS after not filing an income tax return for two decades. She has since been released from prison, as has Philpot.

Other Lake County officials have also seen their public careers ended in the past decade from federal charges, including then-East Chicago Mayor George Pabey, who a federal jury convicted of using city employees and money to renovate a house he bought in Gary, and then-Calumet Township Trustee Dozier Allen Jr., who was convicted of taking money from a state grant that was supposed to pay a contractor.

The only other open case against a Lake County politician is the indictment against former Calumet Township Trustee Mary Elgin, who followed Allen in the seat, on various charges, including using her office and employees to run her re-election campaigns and trying to get a kickback from a vendor. She has pled not guilty in her case and is awaiting trial.

Soderquist stands out from these former politicians in that he's charged in two separate cases. The second case, which is set to go to trial in November, accuses his stepdaughter, Miranda Brakley, of stealing money from Lake Station when she worked there as a court clerk. Soderquist and his wife are accused of helping her. All three have also pled not guilty in that case.

08272015 - News Article - Trial starts Monday in Soderquist case

Trial starts Monday in Soderquist case

NWI Times

August 27, 2015

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/trial-starts-monday-in-soderquist-case/article_a7cd33b7-cefe-5fd2-8a85-aecba9c7c715.html

HAMMOND | The trial of Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife, Deborah, on federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and filing false tax returns is scheduled to begin in U.S. District Court on Monday.

The government contends the couple conspired to use campaign cash and food pantry donations to sponsor gambling trips that had put their finances in a tailspin. The trial is expected to last four to five days.

In court filings this week, prosecutors said one of their expert witnesses will be FBI special agent Robert Moledor, who the government said will give testimony placing the Soderquists' cellphones at or near the Four Winds Casino in the New Buffalo, Mich. area and at locations, such as at ATM machines, to these trips.

The government contends the pair improperly took money from the mayor's re-election campaign fund and the city's food pantry and spent it at local casinos from the spring of 2010 through December 2012.

In a recent motion, prosecutors said they anticipate introducing records from the campaign committee, the committee's bank account and area casinos. They contend the records will show an increasing number of ATM withdrawals from the campaign committee bank account — including about a dozen ATM withdrawals in 2010 that were made within 24 hours of trips the Soderquists made to a casino and more than 30 such withdrawals in 2011 and 2012.

In all, the government contends the pair took more than $20,000 through ATM withdrawals from the committee bank account over a period of time for gambling. Prosecutors said none of the withdrawals were listed on campaign finance disclosure forms signed by the couple.

In 2011, the couple also allegedly started withdrawing money from a bank account tied to the Lake Station Food Pantry, which was supported by private donations as well as government funds.

When presented with subpoenas related to the charges, prosecutors said the Soderquists submitted receipts "suggesting certain institutions received money from the campaign committee" Prosecutors, however, contend these were not legitimate reimbursement from the campaign fund.

"Instead, the submission of these receipts are simply further evidence of the defendants' attempt to conceal the conspiracy," prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also talked about what they characterize as the couples' financial decline and contend the couple lost more than $160,000 at the casinos from 2007 to 2013. The government contends evidence of the couple's alleged gambling and financial problems "goes directly to motive and intent."

The government contends the couple withdrew more than $45,000 from retirement accounts in 2009 and 2010 and $5,000 in 2011. After cashing out retirement savings, prosecutors say the couple's financial condition grew worse and in 2010 and 2011 they discharged over $35,000 in credit card debt because they were insolvent. 

Defense attorney Scott King has said prosecutors "got in wrong" in regard to the charges against the couple. Speaking shortly after the indictments came down, King said the couple reimbursed themselves for personal expenses from the mayor's campaign funds and "never touched a penny" of money from the city's food pantry fund.

The couple are also scheduled to stand trial in November along with the mayor's stepdaugher, Miranda Brakley, on separate charges. In that case, they are accused of knowing Brakley took at least $5,000 from the Lake Station City Court and helped prevent her apprehension by police. King has denied they are committed any criminal act in this case as well.

08252015 - News Article - Lake Station, Ind. Resident Stunned By $1,200 Water Bill

Lake Station, Ind. Resident Stunned By $1,200 Water Bill

CBS News - Chicago, IL

August 25, 2015 - 10:21 PM

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/08/25/lake-station-ind-resident-stunned-by-1200-water-bill/

LAKE STATION, Ind. (CBS) — Why would a local city threaten to shut off a man’s water? Because he hasn’t paid the bill.

Why hasn’t he paid the bill? Because he says it’s ten times the normal amount and something is fishy.

CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov reports Lake Station, Indiana resident James Williams owes more than $1,200 to the city’s water department. He says there’s no way he used the amount of water the city is billing him for.

James Williams is preparing for the worst. The married father of two expects his water will be turned off because he can’t pay the massive, $1,274.05 bill for using 80,000 gallons of water in just two weeks in May, enough water to fill his kids’ baby pool 29 times.

“It just doesn’t make sense to have a 1,200 dollar bill for anybody,” Williams said. “That’s pretty much paying for the whole city, I feel like.”

Williams, a renter, went to the city for help. The home’s owner met with the mayor. Both were told he owes the money, so, we checked into it.

Mayor Keith Soderquist’s office was empty. Later, Soderquist told Kozlov by phone the new metering system indicated a leak or problem, before readings returned to normal. But the mayor acknowledged the city never checked the meter, which Williams says is underground.

“It’s never even been opened,” Williams said.

Neighbor Charles Pierce says he once had a meter problem that the city checked and fixed.

“For them not to come out here and check the meter, I blame the water department for that,” Pierce said.

Williams says he doesn’t know what else to do.

“I know I did not use 80,000 gallons of water,” he said. “I would hear that.”

Mayor Soderquist recommends Williams come back in and talk to him, or set up a payment schedule. He did not indicate there were plans to check that meter.

The water is scheduled to be shut off Thursday.

08252015 - News Article - Fed attorneys say cell phone records put Lake Station mayor at ATMs, casino

Fed attorneys say cell phone records put Lake Station mayor at ATMs, casino

Post-Tribune

August 25, 2015 - 3:15 PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-soderquist-hearing-st-0826-20150825-story.html

Federal attorneys continue to outline evidence they'll use next week during Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist's criminal trial, including cell phone data that supposedly connects visits at ATMs and his trips to a nearby casino.

Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, are accused of using money from his campaign re-election committee and from the Lake Station Food Pantry to pay for numerous gambling trips to the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Mich.

According to a notice filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in Hammond, the government plans on calling FBI Special Agent Robert Moledor as an expert witness. His testimony is expected to focus on the Soderquists' cell phone data that shows they visited ATMs shortly before they could be found at the casino.

In the notice, the government also says they might call a second expert witness, IRS Forensic Examiner Larry Olsen, during rebuttal if needed. The notice says he would testify on ink and pressure analysis regarding whether unidentified documents were produced later than they appear to have been created.

U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano also granted during a hearing Tuesday morning most of the government's request to bar defense attorneys Scott King and Lakeisha Murdaugh from asking questions that could elicit sympathy from the jurors, such as asking the defendants about their health and mentioning what penalties they face if convicted.

The trial is set to start Monday and is expected to last four to five days. The Soderquists are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false tax return.

They're also both charged in a separate case involving Deborah Soderquist's daughter Miranda Brakley, who is accused of stealing money from the city when she worked there as a court clerk. That trial will start in November.

08242015 - News Article - Feds outline evidence against Lake Station mayor

Feds outline evidence against Lake Station mayor

Post-Tribune

August 24, 2015

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-soderquist-federal-case-st-0825-20150824-story.html

Federal attorneys outlined some of the evidence they want to use against Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist when his first trial starts next week, including evidence they say shows the mayor and his wife tried to hide their crimes from investigators.

According to a motion filed Friday in the U.S. District Court in Hammond, federal attorneys want to present receipts that Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, gave them that supposedly explained where money from his campaign re-election committee went.

The government says in the motion, however, that those receipts were an attempt to hide that they had used the money on various gambling trips to nearby casinos.

"...The submission of these receipts are simply further evidence of the defendants' attempt to conceal the conspiracy," the motion says, adding that the evidence shows the Soderquists knew they had committed a crime.

It goes on to outline that conspiracy, saying evidence shows they made more than 40 ATM withdrawals from the mayor's campaign fund within 24 hours of their visits to casinos from 2010 to 2012. The withdrawals totaled more than $20,000, according to the motion.

"The defendants held out the Campaign Committee to donors as one thing - a fund meant to help re-elect Mayor Soderquist - and treated the Campaign Committee money completely at odds with that representation," the motion says.

The government claims they made similar withdrawals from the Lake Station Food Pantry's account, although the motion does not say how much was taken from that account.

The motion argues that these withdrawals match the decline of the Soderquists' finances, including losing $160,000 from gambling over a six-year period ending in 2013.

Evidence shows they withdrew $50,000 from their retirement accounts from 2009 to 2011, according to the motion, and that they discharged $35,000 in credit card debt because they were insolvent and couldn't make payments.

The government is asking a federal judge to allow the use of this evidence during the Soderquists' trial, which is set to start Monday.

Federal attorneys also filed another motion Friday asking that Scott King and Lakeisha Murdaugh, attorneys for the Soderquists, be barred from trying to elicit sympathy for their clients so that the jury would acquit them even if they think the defendants are guilty, which is known as jury nullification.

This includes not asking questions about the Soderquists' age and health, whether the government unfairly focused on them and not other criminals, their previous lack of a criminal history and the possible penalties they face if convicted.

The mayor and his wife were charged in the spring of 2014 with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false income tax return. The trial is expected to last four to five days.

Both of the Soderquists are also charged in a second case, along with Deborah Soderquist's daughter, Miranda Brakley, in connection with claims that Brakley stole money from the city when she worked there as a court clerk. That trial is set for November.

08162015 - News Article - Portage man in domestic shooting dies

Portage man in domestic shooting dies

Post-Tribune (IN) 

August 16, 2015

www.newsbank.com

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams confirmed Saturday that Miguel Contreras, who is suspected of shooting and killing his wife Wednesday before turning the gun on himself, has died.

Maria Contreras, 45, suffered multiple gunshot injuries that resulted in her death, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said last week. Her death was ruled a homicide.

It was unclear exactly when Miguel Contreras, 51, died. Williams said he died late Friday or early Saturday. He had been transferred from Methodist Hospitals' Northlake campus in Gary on Wednesday to a suburban Chicago hospital, according to a Methodist official.

"He was removed from life support and succumbed to injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Williams said. He shot himself in the head.

Since both Miguel and Maria Contreras have died, "there isn't really anything else investigatory we need to do," Williams said.

The Portage Police Department received a call at 4:12 p.m. Wednesday about a verbal disturbance at the Contreras residence, in the 3000 block of Edith Street in the Sandalwood Estates subdivision on the city's east side.

The call was updated with information about possible shots fired, and Williams has said three or four shots were fired during the incident.

Officers found Maria Contreras partially outside an open glass siding door at the back of the house. Miguel Contreras, found in the adjacent living room, was still breathing when he was taken to the hospital. Police found a semi-automatic handgun believed to be used in the shooting in the house.

The couple's 22-year-old son was home at the time of the shooting, and their daughter was at college.

08152015 - News Article - Man dies after allegedly killing wife, shooting self

Man dies after allegedly killing wife, shooting self
NWI Times
By Bob Kasarda
August 15, 2015
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/man-dies-after-allegedly-killing-wife-shooting-self/article_9c5252e8-0942-54f5-9aff-80df97fc988b.html

PORTAGE | The man believed responsible for shooting and killing his estranged wife last week has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound stemming from the incident, according to Portage Police Chief Troy Williams.

Miguel Contreras, 51, died either Friday night or early Saturday at a Chicago hospital where he had been transported, Williams said.

"It's very sad," Williams said. "Very tragic."

Miguel Contreras is believed to have shot Maria Contreras and then himself about 4 p.m. Wednesday at her home in the 3000 block of Edith Street in the Sandalwood Estates subdivision on Portage's east side, police said.

Police said they were called to the home for a report of a verbal disturbance and were told while en route that shots had been fired. They arrived to find Maria Contreras' body lying across the track of a sliding glass door at the rear of the house with her body half inside and half outside the home.

Miguel Contreras was found inside the home, injured but still breathing, police said.

The couple had a final divorce hearing scheduled for Sept. 29, according to court records. Maria Contreras had told the courts nearly a year ago that she feared her husband would hurt her as part of the separation.

"The thought of him losing complete control of our marriage could well cause him to act violently and irrationally," she said in a handwritten letter used to help convince the court in September to order Miguel Contreras to stay away from her.

Elsewhere in the same letter, she said Miguel Contreras "has demanded complete control of everything" during their 22-year marriage. She said the marriage had been terrible during its last two years and Miguel Contreras had refused to disclose information about their assets.

"Recently, when I told him I was leaving, he told me I should kill myself rather than return home," she said.

Maria Contreras secured the protective order in September in anticipation of the divorce. It was then dismissed at her request two weeks later, according to court records.

08142015 - News Article - Portage woman's death ruled a homicide

Portage woman's death ruled a homicide 
Husband remains hospitalized in Gary
Post-Tribune (IN)
August 14, 2015
www.newsbank.com
A Portage woman shot in an apparent murder-attempted suicide died from multiple gunshot wounds, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said Thursday, adding her death has been ruled a homicide.

The time of death for Maria Contreras, 45, was 4:39 p.m. Wednesday, he said. Contreras died at her home in the 3000 block of Edith Street in the Sandalwood Estates subdivision on Portage's east side.

Her husband, Miguel Contreras, 51, sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said Wednesday, and was transported to Methodist Hospitals Northlake campus in Gary. The extent of his injuries was critical, police said Wednesday, but his condition was not immediately known Thursday.

Miguel Contreras has not been charged.

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams has said his department received a call at 4:12 p.m. Wednesday about a verbal disturbance at the residence, and the call was updated with information about possible shots fired. Williams said three or four shots were fired during the incident.

Officers found Maria Contreras partially outside an open glass sliding door at the back of the house. Miguel Contreras, found in the adjacent living room, was still breathing when he was transported to the hospital. Police found a semi-automatic handgun believed to be used in the shooting in the house.

The couple's 22-year-old son was home at the time of the shooting and their daughter was at college.

08132015 - News Article - Portage woman's death ruled a homicide

Portage woman's death ruled a homicide

August 13, 2015, 3:05pm

Chicago Post Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-portage-shooting-follow-st-0814-20150813-story.html

A Portage woman shot and killed in an apparent murder-attempted suicide died from multiple gunshot wounds, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said Thursday, adding her death has been ruled a homicide.

The time of death for Maria Contreras, 45, was 4:39 p.m. Wednesday, he said. Contreras died at her home in the 3000 block of Edith Street in the Sandalwood Estates subdivision on Portage's east side.

Her husband, Miguel Contreras, 51, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said Wednesday, and was transported to Methodist Hospitals Northlake campus in Gary. The extent of his injuries were critical, police said Wednesday, but his condition was not immediately known Thursday.

Miguel Contreras has not been charged.

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams has said his department received a call at 4:12 p.m. Wednesday about a verbal disturbance at the residence, and the call was updated with information about possible shots fired. Williams said three or four shots were fired during the incident.

Officers found Maria Contreras partially outside an open glass siding door at the back of the house. Miguel Contreras, found in the adjacent living room, was still breathing when he was transported to the hospital. Police found a semi-automatic handgun believed to be used in the shooting in the house.

The couple's 22-year-old son was home at the time of the shooting and their daughter was at college. The couple was married at one time but police did not know the status of their relationship.

08132015 - News Article - Shooting victim warned of potential harm

Shooting victim warned of potential harm
NWI Times
08/13/2015
Bob Kasarda bob.kasarda@nwi.com, (219) 548-4345
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/shooting-victim-warned-of-potential-harm/article_82924695-752d-5a2c-b7d1-2c79e6e35f65.html

PORTAGE | A woman shot and killed at her home Wednesday had told the courts nearly a year earlier that she feared the alleged gunman - her estranged husband - would hurt her.

"The thought of him losing complete control of our marriage could well cause him to act violently and irrationally," Maria Contreras said in a handwritten letter used to help convince the court in September to order Miguel Contreras to stay away from her.

Elsewhere in the same letter, she said Miguel Contreras "has demanded complete control of everything" during their 22-year marriage. She said the marriage had been terrible during its last two years and Miguel Contreras had refused to disclose information about their assets.

"Recently, when I told him I was leaving, he told me I should kill myself rather than return home," she said.

Miguel Contreras, 51, is believed to have shot Maria Contreras, 45, and then himself around 4 p.m. at her home in the 3000 block of Edith Street in the Sandalwood Estates subdivision on the city's east side, police said. Miguel Contreras, who has not been charged, survived the apparent suicide attempt and is hospitalized in an unknown condition.

The couple had a final divorce hearing scheduled for Sept. 29, according to court records.

Police said they were called to the home Wednesday for a report of a verbal disturbance and were told while en route that shots had been fired. They arrived to find Maria Contreras' body lying across the track of a sliding glass door at the rear of the house with her body half inside and half outside the home.

Miguel Contreras was found inside the home, injured but still breathing. He was transported to The Methodist Hospitals' Northlake campus in Gary.

Police found a semi-automatic handgun believed to have been used in the homicide inside the home.

Maria Contreras secured the protective order in September in anticipation of the divorce.

"I am very fearful that he will harm me when he is served with the divorce papers that I am filing with this protective order," she wrote. "I ask that he be removed from the marital residence pending a provisional hearing in the divorce."

The protective order was issued and then dismissed at Maria Contreras' request two weeks later, according to court records.

Maria Contreras was pronounced dead at her home at 4:39 p.m., Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said.

The cause of death was ruled multiple gunshot wounds suffered in a homicide, Harris said.

The case remains under investigation by Portage police.

Miguel Contreras was also arrested for drunk driving in July 2010, according to court records.

08132015 - News Article - Woman shot to death in Portage home

Woman shot to death in Portage home

August 13, 2015, 8:01 am

Chicago Post Tribune

Amy Lavalley

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-portage-shooting-st-0813-20150812-story.html

A Portage woman is dead and a man is critically wounded after what Portage police are calling an apparent murder-attempted suicide Wednesday afternoon in a subdivision on the city's east side.

The woman was dead at the scene and the man, who suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, was transported to Methodist Hospital Northlake campus in Gary, police said at the scene. Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris was at the home Wednesday evening. Harris identified the woman as 45-year-old Maria S. Contreras.

A neighbor who asked that his name not be used said he first thought he heard fireworks in the garage, then realized it was gunfire.

Police Chief Troy Williams said his department received a call at 4:12 p.m. about a verbal disturbance in the 3000 block of Edith Street in the Sandalwood Estates subdivision. The call was updated with information about possible shots fired. Williams said three or four shots were fired during the incident.

Officers found Contreras partially outside an open glass siding door at the back of the house. The man, found in the adjacent living room, was still breathing when he was transported to the hospital, Williams said, adding police found a semi-automatic handgun believed to be used in the shooting in the house.

Williams said the man and woman were at one time married, but that he did not know the status of their relationship. He wasn't aware of other calls to the house by police.

The couple's 22-year-old son was home at the time, officials said.

"He ran out of the house shortly after shots were fired or as the shots were fired," Williams said, adding the couple also has a daughter in college.

Neighbors gathered in clusters in the neighborhood, which was lined with police cars, the police department's mobile investigations unit, and the coroner's van. The house was marked off with yellow crime scene tape.

One neighbor, who declined to give his name, said the couple had lived there around nine years.

The neighbor said the man worked as a mechanic and they shared an interest in cars, and the neighbor often talked to the couple's son about race cars.

"They're a quiet family. We didn't hear nothing from them," he said, adding other than car talk. "It was normal. It was hi-bye."

The neighbor was outside with his toddler son when he heard the gunshots and first thought the sound was fireworks in the garage, he said.

"I heard three successive gunshots, a loud scream and another gunshot, then silence. That's when the son started running toward me," the neighbor said. "You're doing your daily routine and stuff like this happens. It changes your life in a second."

08122015 - News Article - Woman killed in apparent murder, attempted suicide in Portage

Woman killed in apparent murder, attempted suicide in Portage

August 12, 2015 8:45 pm  

Joyce Russell 

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/woman-killed-in-apparent-murder-attempted-suicide-in-portage/article_4768f656-0bc2-5f0f-b0e5-01deac4b6f83.html

PORTAGE | One woman is dead and a man seriously wounded in what is an apparent murder, attempted suicide, police said.

Police were called to the home at 3027 Edith St., in the Sandalwood subdivision, just east of Airport Road, about 4 p.m. on a call of a verbal disturbance, according to Police Chief Troy Williams.

As police were en route to the home, they were notified that shots had been fired.

Williams said when police arrived, they found the woman lying half inside and half outside a sliding glass door in the rear of the home. She was already dead, he said. The man was inside the house, still breathing.

Williams, who is not identifying the man and woman, said the man was transported to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary.

A semi-automatic handgun, thought to be the weapon, was found in the house.

Williams said the man and woman were at least at one time married, but was uncertain of their relationship status.

Their adult son who had just returned home, came running out of the house saying his father had a gun, Williams said.

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said he was outside when he heard a series of three shots, a scream and then saw a young man run out of the house.

The couple also has a daughter, who is away at college, Williams said.

Neighbors gathered around the home at the intersection of Edith Street and Rose Ellen Avenue. Most said they only knew the couple by waving and that the man spent much of his time working on cars.

They said the neighborhood is usually very quiet.

Williams didn't know if police had been called to the home on any other occasions.

Police cordoned off the home with yellow crime scene tape as more than a dozen police officers went in and out of the house and talked to neighbors. A van from the Porter County coroner's office was on the scene as well as Portage's crime scene investigation unit.

"Our investigation continues and we are saddened that such a tragedy occurred," Williams said in a statement released Wednesday night.