Earlier this year, mausoleum doors in Forest Park cemeteries were stolen four times in July and August. And in August, the Forest Park Police Department located John Kozeluh, 49, and Lana Grey, 38, of Westchester and took them into custody. They were charged with 15 felonies in Forest Park and got an additional 28 felony charges and two misdemeanor charges in LaGrange, Hillside and Justice.
Forest Park Police Chief Dan Pater recognized two of the department’s officers, Det. Sgt. Adam Stasinopoulos and Det. Tom Cannon, who led the mausoleum door investigation at the Nov. 9 council meeting.
“I firmly believe that if it wasn’t for Detective Sergeant Stasinopoulos and Detective Cannon leading this investigation, none of the [charges from] police departments that were involved in this multi-jurisdictional investigation would have happened,” Pater said. “The Forest Park Police Department investigators demonstrated exceptional investigative skills, initiative and interagency collaboration while investigating a series of mausoleum door thefts occurring at multiple cemeteries throughout Forest Park and surrounding communities.”
“Detective Sergeant Stasinopoulos and Detective Cannon’s persistence, professionalism, and ability to coordinate a complex, multi-jurisdictional investigation were instrumental in identifying those responsible, recovering stolen property, and developing evidence to support criminal charges,” Pater added.
Pater said each set of mausoleum doors cost between $25,000 to $45,000 to replace, and that police recovered five stolen doors from a metal recycler.
Stasinopoulos and Cannon investigated the thieves through interviews, search warrants, video surveillance analysis, automated license plate reader data, cellular data and phone records. They also got a vehicle tracker warrant and identified the suspects’ vehicle.
“These investigative efforts resulted in the suspects making incriminating statements and additional criminal charges being secured for multiple thefts,” Pater said.
Pater said the outcome of the investigation “reflects their unwavering commitment to public safety and the communities they serve. These investigators are invaluable assets to the police department. Their professionalism, perseverance and results-driven approach bring great credit to the criminal investigations division and the Forest Park Police Department as a whole.”