"G.I. Joe's" Widow Receives Settlement: Melodie Gliniewicz and Pension Board Come to Agreement
In November 2024, the Fox Lake Village Board and the Fox Lake Police Pension Board came to an agreement with the widow of disgraced former police lieutenant "G.I. Joe" Gliniewicz
In May 2024, Tales From the Underworld covered the shocking tale of Lt. Joe "G.I. Joe" Gliniewicz
Update
In November 2024, Melodie Gliniewicz received a settlement for her late husband's pension after several legal battles. She was reportedly awarded a settlement of $1 million by the Fox Lake Village Board and the Fox Lake Police Pension Board. Negotiations between the parties began in early 2023.
According to a nine-page ruling, they based their decision on the fact that they wanted to avoid the risk of a possible adverse ruling, the cost of attorney’s fees, and reduce the cost of the survivor’s pension in case they lost the case.
The village also wanted to bring closure to a disgraceful chapter in their history. Mayor Donny Schmit said, “While we cannot change the past, we can choose a path forward that brings closure and represents a prudent financial decision for the Village. This agreement does just that, and we are ready to focus on the continued growth and well-being of our community.”
Backstory
Police Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz was a well-known and respected figure in his community. He served in the village of Fox Lake Police Department, a community of 10,000, just 60 miles north of Chicago. He had earned the nickname “G.I. Joe” for his previous military service.
Lt. Gliniewicz ran the Fox Lake Police Explorers program Post 300 for teens interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. He was seen by many as a mentor. However, one fateful day in September 2015 would change everything.
On the morning of September 1st, 2015, Joe radioed to dispatch that he was investigating suspicious activity in a remote wooded area. At 7:52 a.m., he radioed in to report that he was pursuing three suspicious individuals at an abandoned cement plant in Fox Lake.
He requested backup as he described the suspects in detail. A few minutes later, fellow officers arrived on the scene and found Gliniewicz lying face down in a marshy area. Joe had been shot and killed, seemingly in the line of duty. The crime scene showed what looked like a horrible struggle.
Right away, the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force pursued their investigation as a homicide. A massive manhunt got underway, searching for the suspects. The ensuing investigation was intense. Local, state, and federal authorities joined forces to track down the suspects. The FBI, ATF, and several other agencies scoured the area, following up on tips and leads.
For weeks, the manhunt continued, with officers working around the clock to find those responsible for Gliniewicz's death. None were ever found. The news of Joe’s death spread rapidly.
The community was left to mourn their fallen hero. They held vigils, banked the police station with flowers. People talked about Joe’s courage and bravery— until a darker story began to unfold.
Troubling Findings
As the investigation continued, troubling findings began to emerge. The crime scene evidence did not align with the initial reports of an ambush. Ballistics and forensic analysis raised questions, and investigators discovered troubling details about Gliniewicz's personal and professional life.
As investigators continued to dig, cracks began to appear in the story. Gliniewicz's squad car radio wasn't on the channel typically used during emergencies. His service weapon wasn't properly holstered, and an empty holster was found near the supposed crime scene.
These inconsistencies gnawed at the investigators, leading them to re-examine every detail. In their careful reexamination of the forensic evidence, investigators determined that Gliniewicz's death was the result of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He had staged his suicide to appear as if he had been killed in the line of duty.
In a November 2015 press conference, the truth came out and left the community reeling in shock. The crime was, in reality, a “carefully staged” suicide to cover up financial improprieties with Explorer Program 300, run by Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, under the Fox Lake Police Department banner.
It was determined that Gliniewicz had been embezzling funds from the Explorer program and using the money to make mortgage payments on his home, fund vacations, buy military surplus equipment, and more.
Realizing that the truth was closing in, Gliniewicz made a fateful decision. He decided to commit suicide and make it look like murder. In his mind, it was an easier course of action than facing the consequences of prison time and a tarnished reputation. He died a month before his retirement, leaving behind a wife and four sons … and a community in outrage.
Aftermath
The anger was further stoked in January 2016 when Gliniewicz’s widow, Melodie, filed a claim with the Police Pension Board for her husband's benefits. She was entitled to 50 to 75 percent of Lieutenant Gliniewicz's annual salary, as he was never charged with a crime since he died before he could be indicted. She quickly withdrew her claim.
That same month, Melodie Gliniewicz was indicted on 11 felony counts of money laundering and using charitable funds for personal expenses. In February 2022, Melody accepted a plea agreement and pled guilty to one count of deceptive practice, a Class 4 felony.
In exchange, the remaining charges were dropped. In April 2022, she was sentenced to two years’ probation and allowed to have her record wiped clean in a Second Chance program.
During the sentencing hearing, Melodie Gliniewicz said, “I want to make it clear. I never took a cent from the Explorer fund … that’s not embezzling funds … not when you pay it back. Every time he’d borrow money, he’d let me know, and I’d write it down.”
The settlement with Melodie Gliniewicz finally brings to a close a dark and painful chapter for the Village of Fox Lake.
Sources:
Beese, K. (2025, April 1). Gliniewicz’s widow accepts $1 million pension payout settlement. Chronicle Media. https://chronicleillinois.com/news/lake-county-news/gliniewiczs-widow-accepts-1-million-pension-payout-settlement/
Borcia, S. (2025, April 10). Village of fox lake pays $1 million settlement to wife of disgraced police officer Joe Gliniewicz. Lake and McHenry County Scanner. https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2025/04/10/village-of-fox-lake-pays-1-million-settlement-to-wife-of-disgraced-police-officer-joe-gliniewicz/
CBS Interactive. (n.d.). Fox Lake, Illinois agrees to settlement for wife of disgraced police officer Joe Gliniewicz. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/fox-lake-illinois-settlement-wife-officer-joe-gliniewicz/
Schaenzer, A. (2025, April 11). Melodie Gliniewicz gets $1M settlement. Crystal Lake-Cary, IL Patch. https://patch.com/illinois/crystallake/melodie-gliniewicz-gets-1m-settlement