The Twisting Case of Lt Joe Gliniewicz 

Who else randomly came across this channel 1 day an now can't stop watching his videos!

Some of the explorers came out to say that the way he was found, including the pursuit of 3 men, was almost identical to a scenario they had practiced as part of their training. Another great video, Mike!

Having worked max sec, there are deeply corrupt people working in both corrections and police. One of my brothers was a cop, he has stories, he transferred after 10 years as cop he went back to school and became a meteorologist. He is much happier now, reporting weather for a local airport/community.

The thing that stands out to me the most is the fact that he was able to rise through the ranks with his tainted background. It shouldn't have been possible when they were putting all of those terrible details into his employee file. Then the agency makes him out to be a hero (lying to the public) initially so that they can just tear down his character later to save face? That's very odd behavior. This man was never supposed to obtain the rank of lieutenant. I wouldn't be surprised if his department knew what he was doing all along and turned a blind eye to it because of his long service with the department.

You can just listen to this without watching because Mike is so animated. What an amazing job!

I was a cop for 8 years in a major city. When Mike first described the scenario my first thought was this is a suicide.

Joe’s wife Melodie was recently sentenced to 24 months probation. She still maintains her innocence in-spite of evidence to the contrary.

This is why it is so important for the truly good cops to call out the bad ones.

As the daughter of a cop, and former dispatcher, I was completely unsurprised that he wasn't the good upstanding member of the community that he seemed to be. But threatening to murder a dispatcher is beyond what I was expecting.

The real tragedy is that he had kids in that small community who were left to face the backlash and the judgement while coping with the loss of their father

I totally remember when this happened. It was all over the news for a long time. When the truth came out about him, it really turned things upside down. I love when Mike does stories close to home. Man, I’m hooked on this channel. Thanks Mike!! Much love from Chicago

I actually live very close to Fox Lake, and remember when this was going on. I worked at a convenient store at the time when Joe was found dead, and I remember when every cop that stopped by on their way to join the manhunt to find his "murderers." Everyone in the area found his death suspicious and it was wild when the truth unfolded. It's crazy knowing things happened like that so close to home

At first I felt sorry for his wife, thinking she was in denial and didn’t want to believe her husband was a scumbag. Then it turns out she was in on the whole thing…. 🙄

Back when I was in High school a girl had a sexual relationship with our school cop. He was very loved in the community and his WIFE and children were well known, they always were involved with the community. He was busted having relations with her in school and of course he was fired as a cop, divorced but people had a hard time believing he was a bad person. It still amazes me.

Thank you, Mike, for sharing some of the document listing matters of complaint against "Lt. Joe": The apparent theft or misuse of a tattoo certificate which had been gifted to the department, redeemed by Gliniewicz while on duty, with the time being somehow billed as part of the Explorer program (if I understood that part correctly), certainly was a colorful bundle of misconduct! That incident itself was worth the pausing it took me to read those individual items.

I had to watch this!! I live in lakemoor right next to Fox lake and the police searched my backyard the night the the 3 "killers". But my husband and I called it immediately. The whole thing was so suspicious.

I live about an hour away from where this happened. Trust me; you’ve never seen anyone go from HERO to ZERO so fast! The people who initially mourned his “murder” were furious to learn that they had been duped. Great job as usual, Mike! ❤️

I remember this case very well. An older friend of mine (I'll call her Ethel), who was as 82 or 83 at the time, said after only about five minutes of watching the live news coverage while we talked, she knew something was off. Ethel immediately said, "Something isn't right. Mark my word. There is going to be a weird twist." I guess if we all live that long, well have Spidey senses, too, like Ethel!

I really question how many of his fellow police officers didn’t know the dirty underbelly. It’s sadly not as rare as we’d like to believe.

I’m literally going through the toughest time in my life. And let me say, Mike, you are amazing. Your show brings me a sense of calm and reality. Not saying in no way shape or form that murder makes me calm but your voice and editing skills are on 1000000000. Thank you for calming me on a daily basis.

The suspects were never found, because those "tree men" were hiding in the forest.

I would like to bring special attention to the complaint that alleges that the officer "somehow obtained control over a certificate for a free tattoo that was donated to the department" and then, while on duty, went and got tatted up. Truly Michael Scott levels of workplace misconduct!

I lived not too far away when this happened. Although they did not publicly say it at the beginning, there were hints/rumors coming out that it was suicide. Also, it seems like Joe may have seen 2 dudes in the area and he described them to dispatch. As soon as they located and cleared those 2, the public skepticism (outside of Fox Lake) grew. Wonder why he didn’t just make something up instead of using real, although innocent, people. Lucky for those two they were apparently believable but I bet they were really scared for a while.

Melodie Gliniewicz, the widow of disgraced Fox Lake Police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, was sentenced to 18 to 24 months' probation Tuesday after pleading guilty in February to a felony charge of deceptive practices, connected to her late husband's financial misdeeds, avoiding a trial on more serious charges.

I love how that old lady was like "I think this is a big conspiracy!" Yeah, grandma. There was. It was the cop. Hello.

His family was probably due a big payout if he was killed in the line of duty, which may have influenced him in staging a crime scene. Excellent video as always, many thanks.

As a retired Soldier, I instantly recognized ‘GI Jokes’ D-bag signature moves, like wearing his veteran status as a badge of honor; donning ACUs during training exercises ; wearing Airborne and Air Assault badges on civilianized ACU uniform; ‘Ranger rolling’ patrol cap; Air Assault tattoo. What a joke…

This all happened in my backyard. I was home that day due to an injury I sustained on the job. Having police up and down my dead-end street and having 6 helicopters over my house was wild.

I feel sorry for all the kids that went through that Explorers program. It really plays with your mind when someone you like/respect turns out to be someone you shouldn't trust. It's especially hard when it happens in your formative years.

So grateful I've never had that burning want for money and I don't envy those who do. Thanks for another great story, Mike.

I watch a lot of investigation discovery and forensic files. I remember this story and a couple more I've watched of Mike's. What I like about Mike, is he explains these cases in half of the time the networks do. Because they are busy looking for actors to play G. I. Joe. Plus Mike puts his own spin on it!

I watched someone reacting to this channel last year so I followed his link to the original video and found Mike. Oh man. I can’t stop watching. I’ve gotten 3 or 4 of my True Crime lovers hooked as well. I wait excitedly for every new video. I think I might just need an intervention...

It’s the way this is titled “The Twisted Case” and I STILL didn’t see that twist coming. Excellent storytelling as always!

Holy shit, I remember this guy. I was in high school when this went down, and we were warned against walking alone on the sidewalk back home before the actual truth behind his death was revealed

This guy is a model for my ex-husband. Only he was a serial rapist. Everyone loved him but a few new him for who he really was. By the way he was a massage therapist, but before he was going to be charged for sexual assault he conveniently died accidently with a shot gun to the face. The woman who was gonna press charges had a nervous breakdown, cause she told him she had taped the session she had with him that day. I had divorced him 10 years earlier. Karma has a way of biting you in the butt.

We love you, Mike! Thanks for being one of the absolute, best storytellers on RU-vid ❤

This was in my hometown, it was such a crazy case and a shock to us all. Love to see you covering this!

‘Hunk of badass’... not even a minute in and Mike has already made my day!

This is unbelievable. A civil worker doing her job right. Applause.

You are such a good story-teller, Mike! I sure didn't see that coming! Thank you for another great video, Bud!

This is my hometown where I grew up. Most of my family is still there. I knew Joe because he was in our high school all the time in the late 90's and was so good to so many kids. Really helped some of my friends out with drug issues and abusive homes. We were just shocked when all of this happened. It was devastating and scary and then became unthinkable when the real details came out. Never know what the hell is going on behind closed doors. I can't believe you're covering this! Love your channel and was shocked to see this one on here today.

Kinda like the cop in my small town. Everyone loved him, until young girls started coming forward that he was inappropriately texting them and even molesting and blackmailing them. He was so loved that his ex wife was literally run out of town when she came out before all the allegations saying he was child predator and not someone who should be a police officer. He resigned an is now a cop in the next town over, but is under multiple investigations and an the truth is starting to come out more an more.

The real scandal here is that the police dept didn't weed this creep out long before.

Looks more like a military cosplay than a police experience lol

"Was he though???" 😂😂😂😂 You always know someone's been bamboozled whenever Mike utters these words. 😉

Mike my dude, would you look into doing a video on Michael Schallert? He committed a double murder in West Frankfort Illinois in 2009. My sister actually dated him for a brief time about 5 years before that. He was at my house many times. He was honestly always a super nice guy when I knew him, but apparently he got addicted to meth after that, and killed two women. He ran to Colorado where they eventually caught him. It's an interesting case.

This is the only true crime channel that I watch. Mike does a good job, and doesn't insert any agenda.

I just recently rewatched the American Greed episode on this story. Thanks for your spin on it!

Stealing money is one thing. The fact that he was willing for potentially innocent people to go to jail to cover up his crimes is despicable.

You have absolutely RUINED me for the boring monotony of the everyday storyteller. THANK YOU Mike, take care!

I was working in fox ridge when this happened, I’ll never forget this time, but I also remember once the name got out, someone had said he prolly did it himself, how bad of a person he was, got eaten alive on Facebook by hundreds of people, weeks later he was laughing

My husband made it through two tours in Vietnam and retired from the Air Force after 20 years. He went on to become a Sheriff Deputy in our community. One month before he was to retire from there he was suddenly taken from us. It seems to happen that way a lot.

Imagine being 3 friends hanging out at the wrong place at the wrong time and all of a sudden you're being arrested and charged as a cop killer...... or worst getting murdered from some crime you didn't commit SMH

I did the Explorer program in New York when I was a teen. I am in my 40's now. The detective that was supposed to be our leader used us to cover for his many affairs. Even his own daughter (she was in the program and he was married to her mother during that time period.). He used the program's money to buy gifts for his many girlfriends. I got to see how dirty cops could be and I ended up quitting after 3 years. The boys in the program started to behave like him. There was a lot of sexual harassment. With that being said there are some really good cops out there, but I saw way too many being horrible and hiding behind the badge. I gave up my dream of being a police officer after that. I respect the good ones, but the horrible ones are trash.

society: wow this cop is so amazing truly a valuable member of society mike: oh really?

I randomly came across this channel...1 year later, I'm still here! I almost have watched every video. So sometimes have to wait!? What a world, lol. Fantastic storyteller. Great for a while at work, you can look or not, and you still get all the visuals!

The new village administrator is trying to control (or administrate) everything in the village (the government funded programs at least, including the police Explorers) because that's her job. He's talking about framing her for felonies for doing her job.

the clips of the people who continue to think it wasn't a suicide and that Joe was setup through department corruption is the weirdest part of this whole story

I moved to Island Lake, a town away from Fox Lake, after a Cook County police station refused to charge or arrest the woman who killed my sister with her car. I loved the Lakes, spent hours of my life partying on Fox Lake, had my 21st bday at Blarney’s Island. But after watching this, it only justifies my moving across the country in 2011. And eff Libertyville too, talk about corrupt cops and just generally snobby people. Sorry, I clearly have a bias 😬Regardless, GREAT video as always - how you can make me laugh and cry at the same time is a gift ❤️

I tell people I’m a couch potato… I don’t even own a couch. I’m just a bed potato

thank you so much, Mike. my beloved 15. year old pupper passed a few days ago. I bottle fed her since birth. Lucy was my world and not a lot takes my mind off everything. you and your channel has been excellent in helping me get through this time. thank you, I love ya. see ya next time

No fucking way!!! This is from my hometown, I remember this story so well from when I was in highschool!! My friends & I were all nervous walking around town when we thought there were people on the run who shot him before we found out the truth! I thought about suggesting this one, nice job! I can't wait to watch this video!

22:06 I’m so impressed with whoever stylized that handwritten sign in the window!

What is most upsetting to me is that his suicide could have led to THREE innocent people being charged with murdering a police officer.

It's actually kind of a relief he didn't take his family with him. If I've learned anything about family annihilators from all my true crime viewings, it's that a lot of them were narcissists that saw no way out.

I'm impressed that they came out and told the public what he was up to. It must have been a hard thing to do!

In my 31 years as an Irish cop I never personally saw a case as bad as this but I saw many where cops were bullying, intimidating and generally making life miserable for other cops they did not like. Usually nothing was ever done as at that time there was no mechanism for making complaints and you were just regarded as a crank if you did. Even if something serious was reported the alleged offenders were allowed to retire on full pension before the investigation was even commenced or concluded so I never saw anybody made accountable.

I love how sarcastic and facetious Mike is about this boring little town at the start 😂

At least he ended up only taking his own life rather than the town administrator's.

I spend alot of time in the chain area, mostly Antioch. I worked with a guy who was in the explorer progran and new joe personally. It was crazy when all of that shit happened. Once rumors started about suicide and his crimes, all of the support and stickers and posters vanished practically overnight.

I actually knew this growing up when I lived in Fox Lake. He was always on edge. This whole thing happened 2 miles from my old house

I intentionally take breaks from your channel so I can go back and watch, been with you since before a million. Thanks for all you do !

I listened to the podcast Over My Dead Body not too long ago when they did a season on G.I Joe. I highly recommend it to those hearing about this case for the first time! Can’t wait to see Mike’s storytelling for this one

On the list of Red Flags about this guy, that Thin Blue Line punisher skull profile picture is right up there at the top.

I like that you address just me in your intro. Others who say “hi everyone “ I look around and there’s no one else.

I’m sure he wasn’t the only one stealing, but his death sure gave them the perfect scapegoat, huh?

I love how Mike tells us the weather. Every. Single. Time. It's just great.

"Lake shaped foxes." That's our Mike! 😂👍👏

Wow! This one was a great story! Love it! I love all your videos!! Thank you for making my day a little bit better!

I’ve lived in Fox Lake Illinois my entire life… Sad seeing it in these kind of documentaries

It makes me sad that all these hours were spent searching for his killers, more work was probably put into this case than most, and other cases were put to the side for it. Cops always tell you they're working as hard as they can for you and your loved ones, but that's not ever true. They work ten times harder for their own

Back in the 90s a friend of mine who was underage had a relationship with a cop. He used to pick her up at her fast food job in his patrol car. She said he even had her help put down traffic cones during an accident investigation. At the time it was a badge of honor (pun intended) for each of them and I didn't really judge. Looking back I find it incredibly creepy and it disturbs me even more how common it was. Guys like him and Drew Peterson operated with impunity for a long time.

Thank you, Mike. You're the Coolest storyteller on YT. LOVE your accent for a start, and your delivery is magnetic, my man! The spotlight you shine on the wrongdoers is blinding! I'm a fan for life now. Would love to meet and swap cultural yarns to add to the rich tapestry of craziness that seems to be the norm hereabouts. Thanks for being you❕👑👍

Someone mentioned you in the Coffeehouse Crime comments, and I'm so glad they did!

Damn , forgot what day it was. Let’s give it a gooo, now that I know. Cheers to you Mike and to all my That Chapter brethren!!!

Not me cracking my ass up at “THE LAKE SHAPE KIND!” 😂😂😂 I am so grateful for this channel ❤️❤️🙌🏽

The real problem is giving someone a blank checkbook with no oversight for years. That welcomes abuse and it usually ends bad.

So much information about this guy. I guess he couldn't take the final outcome to his life's story. Great video, Mike!😘

Ever since I discovered Mike I haven’t missed a single episode. Mad love all the way from South Africa 🇿🇦

I have an extended family member that worked closely with him and was trained by him. This person was in total shock as to what he was doing and I quote "He was the last one I thought would be doing that"

What can lead to The Downfall of a Man 1. Inappropriate photos 2. Inappropriate videos 3. Inappropriate language 4. Inappropriate thoughts 5. Alcohol 6. Drugs

We moved from the southwestern suburbs of Chicago Lake County, in early 1972 and right away noticed the shady crap that happened in that entire area. Cops and mayors were like kings and their henchmen. The police chief in our little village changed his name to try and hide some shady crap in his past, but was caught and busted! Tiny villages changed board members on a continuous basis. It’s better now. I haven’t lived in the area for twenty five years but my mother still does.

Came for the true crime, stayed for the unparalleled lake-related humor! 🤣🤣🤣 Love ya Mike! Thanks for always giving us the best videos! I’m always here to give it a goo!!

I wish I had something clever to say…. But I’ll just say, you’re the best Mike!

Wow - I paused this to read the list of complaints and his conduct was unbelievable! He harassed a lot of women and other officers. He even took his family on vacation- in his squad car! 🚓

The "type of foxes" comment had me howling! Thank you.

Wow! I was here for this one. I live in the area. Locked doors, thinking cop killers were on foot, people in an uproar over this mans death and the subsequent shock upon the findings once the metaphorical veil was lifted. Super excited for this one! Edit to add I HAD NO IDEA FOX LAKE WAS SHAPED LIKE… well, like that. We have Round Lake, Lake Villa, Island Lake, Grayslake, Crystal Lake, Lake Forest (Michael Jordan’s old home there) Lake in the Hills and good old Fox Lake. (I’m sure I missed a few) this is (take a guess… ) Lake County IL! More fun facts: next-door to Fox Lake is Antioch, Where Kyle Rittenhouse resides recently found not guilty as I’m sure everyone knows. (Rittenhouse was a part of an explorer program- wonder if it was the same one?!) Then we also have in Crystal Lake where young AJ Freund was murdered by his mother and father, Who said he was missing but later found in a field. They are locked up now. Horrible. Then we have Volo, also mentioned in the video (Volo bog) which is actually home to Volo Auto museum, a pretty cool place where are you can find the Batmobile, The Ghostbuster car and my fave, the Scooby-Doo van. Plus a shit ton of other cars. They actually just recently got some giant robotic dinosaurs that you can see from the highway. Which was a bit of a scare we went to their huge thrift store. Oh yeah, they have a thrift store. It’s full of treasures. It’s the best part of this whole post. Anyway. GREAT VIDEO, Mike!

Mike, you are the absolute best True Crime channel across the board. Not only do we get to hear the best accent in the entire world, but we also get your amazing personality and ad libs. I really can’t recommend you enough!! 💕

Being from Illinois my immediate thought was “What an idiot.” Fox Lake is not named for the shape of the lake but rather it was named after the Fox River which in turn was named for the Native American Fox tribe.

You are absolutely darling. Keep givin' it a go, we'll keep watching!