Chicago

‘This Can Happen to Any of You': Wife of Slain CEO Speaks Out

Barbara Misiur says her family’s life has been turned upside down.

"Mike was an amazing father to my children we had dreams plans. Stay away from problem zone," she told NBC 5. "That’s why we live in suburbs."

Her husband-to-be Mike Beedle was stabbed to death March 23 in an alley in the 400 block of North State Street. Beedle was the CEO and founder of Enterprise Scrum Inc., a software coaching and training company based in Bannockburn.

Gino Bassett, 56, is charged with Beedle's murder. Community activist Andrew Holmes says Bassett was arrested 98 times on various felony and misdemeanor charges.

"We have a lot have mental health institutes that have been closed down, they need to be opened back up," Holmes said. "This could have been prevented even with this guy’s second arrest."

Now Holmes and Misiur are demanding changes in the criminal justice system, including better identification and treatment of arrestees with mental health problems.

"That person should not be in the street," Misiur said. "This is wrong on so many levels."

Beedle and Misiur were planning a trip later this month to her native Poland. There they planned to marry and find a new place to live.

Even before his murder, she says, they no longer felt safe in Chicago.

"We never ever thought this could happen to us," she said. "(I) want everyone to know this can happen to any (of) you."

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