A Glendale Heights man suspected in a murder-for-hire plot against some of his family members was ordered held on $1 million bond.
Matthew Olszewski of the 1500 block of Glen Ellyn Road was charged with three counts of solicitation of murder and three counts of solicitation of murder for hire, class X felonies. Olszewski is accused of trying to hire who he thought was a hitman to murder his aunt, uncle and grandfather.
State's Attorney Robert Berlin told NBC Chicago Olszewski was in jail for stealing $500 worth of jewelry from his relatives. He wanted his family members dead, Berlin said, so they couldn't testify against him.
"He said he felt betrayed," Berlin said. "He told the hitman where he could find the jewelry and that would be his payment."
Olszewski orchestrated the scheme from jail, Berlin said. Another inmate told authorities and an undercover police officer posed as the hitman. He even visited the suspect in jail to seal the deal.
Berlin said the family all lived together.
"It's so sad," the father-in-law of the suspect's aunt and uncle told NBC Chicago.
“The charges brought against Mr. Olszewski are an assault not only on the victims in this case, but on the criminal justice system itself,” Berlin said. “Any attempt, or perceived attempt, to bring physical harm to a witness or victim will be met by the full force of the law."
