GUILTY IL - Anita 'Jeanie' Kustok, 58, shot to death, Orland Park, 29 Sept 2010

[BigFatMommyDog]

…just a shout out and a thank you to Woe Be and Joe - thank you for getting the MSM news out there. I'm a "local" following - you all seem to have the bases covered.

 

[Joe Friday]

After Taking Wife’s Body To Hospital, Kustok Tells Nurse He’s ‘Life Of The Party’

Allan Kustok lived an apparent double life, maintaining the outward façade of a suburban family man, while carousing and womanizing on the sly. He was “the life of the party,” he confided to a nurse after he drove his wife’s body to Palos Community Hospital, Cook County prosecutors said Monday at Kustok’s murder trial.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02...tal-kustok-tells-nurse-hes-life-of-the-party/

 

[Joe Friday]

Allan Kustok murder trial: Women testify they dated man accused in wife's murder

On Tuesday, jurors heard from Kathleen Rettke, a suburban wife and mother who testified she met Allan Kustok on an online dating site for married people.

They went to a downtown restaurant two days before Jeannie Kustock was shot to death in 2010.

Rettke told jurors she texted Kustok three times on the day Jeannie died.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=9445458

 

[Joe Friday]

Kustok's daughter-in-law testifies in court

On cross examination by defense lawyer Richard Beuke, Nicole Kustok took pains to walk back questions in which Beuke implied her in-laws had "a perfect marriage" as well as smaller points Beuke made to demonstrate Allan Kustok was a father devoted to his children. Asked about a lawsuit Allan Kustok filed when Zak transferred from Notre Dame to Northwestern to preserve a year of football eligibility, which Beuke characterized as a sign that Allan Kustok would do anything for his children, Nicole Kustok said, "Al was a litigious person, yes."

Asked by prosecutors if she would have thought the Kustoks' marriage was perfect had she known Allan Kustok carried on multiple extramarital affairs and made use of a website for married people seeking romantic encounters outside their marriage, Nicole Kustok looked in the direction of Allan Kustok and the defense team and said, "Of course not."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...w-testifies-in-court-20140226,0,4778931.story

 

[Joe Friday]

Victim's sister thought Kustoks had 'perfect marriage'

Patty Krcmery thought her sister Anita "Jeanie" Kustok had the perfect marriage and an ideal husband in Allan Kustok.

But that was before Krcmery learned from police and prosecutors investigating Jeanie Kustok's death that Allan Kustok had carried on a string of extramarital affairs. And, her sister said, if Jeanie had known, she would have left her husband of 34 years.

"With all due respect, (Jeanie) did not know" about the affairs, Krcmery said on the witness stand as defense lawyer Rick Beuke pointed out that Krcmery had initially told police the Kustoks had a "perfect marriage."

"If she had known (about the other women), she would have left."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...ustok-trial-met-0226-20140226,0,2283882.story

 

[Joe Friday]

Kustok attorneys battle over details of bedroom, clothing


Defense asks for mistrial based on newspaper interview of defendant's son

Attorneys in the murder trial of Allan Kustok battled over evidence ranging in size from bedroom furniture to microscopic particles Thursday, skirmishes that could be key in a case in which the alleged victim's final moments will have to be largely deduced from minute details like trajectory angles and a reconstructed crime scene.

(Snipped)

But the main drama of the day came when jurors left the courtroom for a morning break, and lead defense lawyer Rick Beuke suggested he might move for a mistrial because Kustok's son, former Northwestern University football standout Zak Kustok, gave an interview to the SouthtownStar newspaper in which he said he did not support his father. Zak Kustok was at the courthouse Wednesday while his wife, Nicole Kustok, testified for the prosecution, but he did not enter the courtroom.

Prosecutor Jennifer Gonzalez said Beuke has not complained about articles that have noted Kustok's daughter, former Comcast SportsNet reporter Sarah Kustok, has been present in court and has said — through her attorney — that she is supporting her dad.

Judge John Hynes, who for the duration of the trial has repeated the same instructions to jurors to not discuss the case or read news reports about it any time they leave the courtroom, asked jurors when they returned from the break to raise their hand if they had seen or heard anything about the case.

"The record will reflect no hands are raised," Hynes observed.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...a-jeanie-kustok-allan-kustok-judge-john-hynes

 

[BigFatMommyDog]

Evidence tech: Gunpowder residue found on Kustok's hands, not on wife

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/orland_park_homer_glen/chi-evidence-tech-gunpowder-residue-found-on-kustoks-hands-not-on-wife-20140228,0,6891721.story

 

[Joe Friday]

Evidence tech: Gunpowder residue found on Kustok's hands, not on wife

Gunpowder residue turned up on the hands of Allan Kustok but not on those of his deceased wife, an evidence technician testified today in Kustok’s murder trial.

Kustok’s lawyers pointed out the seemingly crucial evidence — which would seem to show Kustok, and not his wife Anita “Jeanie” Kustok, was the only one to fire the .357 pistol that killed Jeanie — was explained in the story the Orland Park businessman had told investigators repeatedly since he arrived at a hospital emergency room with his wife’s body.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...ks-hands-not-on-wife-20140228,0,6891721.story

 

[Joe Friday]

Expert: Kustok didn’t shoot herself

The gun that took Anita “Jeanie” Kustok’s life was held at least six inches from her face when it was fired, making it highly unlikely that she shot herself, a medical expert testified Friday in the murder trial of Allan Kustok.

The findings of Dr. Hilary McElligott, who conducted the autopsy of Jeanie Kustok, are just the latest revelation in the two-week-old trial that cast doubt on Allan Kustok’s version of what happened the morning of Sept. 29, 2010. He claims his wife died by her own hands.

The .357 magnum revolver that killed Jeanie Kustok was held between six and 24 inches from her left cheek, “a range of fire is typically not seen” in suicide cases, McElligott testified at the Bridgeview court house.

But there were other vexing details to the story Allan Kustok, 63, told of his wife’s death at their Orland Park home, prompting McElligott to rule Jeanie Kustok’s death a homicide.

(Snipped)

McElligott noted that Jeanie Kustok was allegedly found holding the revolver in her right hand, with a gunshot wound to her left cheek. She also testified that the fatal bullet traveled at a slightly downward angle, exiting Jeanie Kustok’s neck. McElligott concluded that it wasn’t possible for Jeanie Kustok to use her right hand to shoot herself on the left side of her face at such an angle.

(Snipped)

Kustok allegedly told police he purchased the .357 Magnum hand gun as an anniversary gift for his wife to make her feel safe when he was absent from their alarm-protected home.

But a receipt from Chuck’s Gun Shop in Riverdale, detailing the June 2009 purchase, indicates Allan Kustok intended to use the handgun for target practice — not home defense — as he allegedly told police.

The date of purchase on the receipt, evidence which was presented to the jury, also draws into question another aspect of Kustok’s defense.

Authorities have previously said that Allan Kustok bought the gun for Jeanie Kustok in the months before her death in 2010.

But the date on the receipt shows the gun was purchase in June, 2009 — well over a year before she died.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/25897292-418/expert-kustok-didnt-shoot-herself.html

 

[BigFatMommyDog]

Latest from the Chicago Tribune -

http://http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/orland_park_homer_glen/ct-kustok-trial-recap-met-0303-20140303,0,6357102.story

 

[BigFatMommyDog]

The latest from the Tribune - blood spatter tutorial and evidence. Prosecution expected to rest following the conclusion of the cross examination of the blood spatter expert witness

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/orland_park_homer_glen/chi-crime-scene-expert-testifies-in-kustok-trial-20140304,0,5599531.story

 

[Joe Friday]

Kustok daughter to testify at murder trial

Kustok’s daughter Sarah is expected to testify that her father couldn’t have killed his wife; she says, the night before her mother was shot, she helped her father plan a surprise birthday gift for her mother.

Read more: http://wgntv.com/2014/03/07/kustok-daughter-to-testify-at-murder-trial/#ixzz2vJyUs1kY

 

[Joe Friday]

Sarah Kustok: I don't believe my father killed my mother

Speaking softly, and at times choking up with emotion, Sarah Kustok took to the witness stand Monday afternoon to testify for her father as he stood trial for the murder of her mother.

Sarah Kustok testified that her family - father Allan, mother Jeanie, and brother Zak - was remarkably close. But in the more than three years since her mother's death, she said she had not talked with her father about the circumstances.

She was adamant that she did not believe, as she told investigators the morning her mother died, that her father could have killed her mother, despite learning since her death that her father carried on multiple affairs.

"You've learned some things about your father... Has that done anything to change your opinion that you gave to those police officers?" defense attorney Rick Beuke asked.

"No. I do not condone that... I'm not OK with that, but that hasn't changed" my mind, she said.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...estify-attorney-says-20140310,0,5674871.story

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Thank you all for documenting the trial over the past two weeks. My plan was to post here during the trial but some unexpected events came up that limited my time on WS.

Reading the recap of the trial today describing the different perspectives and possible division of the two adult children made me sad. Maybe Sarah can't bear to accept the truth as to her father's character. Maybe she realizes her father is guilty but decided to take the stand for the defense as her way of letting him know she still loves him. Her testimony won't change the outcome of the verdict imo.

I respect Zak and his wife for honoring his mother's life by honoring her essence and memory after her life was taken from her.

Hopefully, the siblings aren't torn apart by the way circumstances appear because of the trial.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...estify-attorney-says-20140310,0,5674871.story

 

[Joe Friday]

Jury takes less than 2 hours to convict Kustok of killing wife

Allan Kustok was found guilty this afternoon in the 2010 shooting death of his wife Anita "Jeanie" Kustok.

As jurors were polled about their verdict, Kustok bowed his head but showed no emotion as his sister wept. His daughter, sportscaster Sarah Kustok, was not in the courtroom as the verdict was read.

(Snipped)

The jury began deliberating at 1 p.m., took a break for lunch and returned the verdict by 2:45 p.m. Kustok faces 45 years to life in prison.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...berating-kustok-trial-20140311,0,829788.story

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Allan Kustok will be sentenced April 17.
(last sentence in article)

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=9462445

Thank you Joe Friday!

 

[OkieGranny]

http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/27849805-418/test-eyed-in-kustok-bid-for-new-trial.html#.U47cASgqWAA

A test that Allan Kustok’s lawyers hope might earn him a new trial for his wife’s murder could be conducted this month...

In their bid for a new trial, his lawyers want a pillowcase from the couple’s bed tested for gunshot residue. If residue is present, they believe that would buttress their argument that Anita Kustok fired the bullet that took her life, perhaps by accident.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://southtownstar.chicagotribune...o-60-years-for-killing-wife.html#.VIjUnHvDvfc

A Cook County judge on Wednesday sentenced Allan Kustok to 60 years for killing his wife, Anita “Jeannie” Kustok, in their Orland Park home in September 2010.