| Mortgage Murder Mystery
George Hansen charged with murder of business partner January 19, 2005 By PATRICK CROWLEY |
| An Illinois mortgage and property investor charged with murdering his 69-year-old business partner already had a shady history. While working with his son in the mortgage business, both had previously been charged with a felony crime — but the key witness in that case was murdered.George Hansen, 63, has been indicted on first degree murder charges and is being held in jail without bond, Bob Lewis, an investigator with the Winnebago, Ill., County State Attorney’s office, told MortgageDaily.com in an interview.
He is charged in the beating death of Mary Ann Clibbery, of Loves Park, Ill. They were business partners and co-owners of All Zullo’s Remodeling Specialists. “She was found beaten to death with massive head trauma,” Lewis said. Asked to comment on the possible murder weapon — local media has reported that a hammer and bloody sweater have been recovered by investigators — Lewis said he could not confirm any details of the investigation. “It’s an ongoing investigation, I can’t say,” Lewis said. Lewis did say said there are “allegations of financial wrongdoing and misconduct” surrounding the crime, but he would not elaborate. “We’re following up on leads,” he said. If found guilty Hansen faces up to 60 years in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 28. Court documents indicate that Clibbery believed Hansen had embezzled $7,000 from the business. Hansen killed Clibbery after she confronted him about the alleged theft, records show. The Rockford Register Star has reported that Hansen had legal problems while in the mortgage business with his son in Chicago. In a 2002 case, the Cook County state attorney’s office filed multiple felony theft charges against Hansen and his son, Todd, the paper reported. The charges involved the purchase of property in Chicago. The case was dismissed last year when a key witness was murdered. In an ongoing civil case the Hansens and 15 other people are accused of using mortgage brokerage and property development companies to defraud an investment firm out of $500,000 through bogus real estate deals. Hansen’s lawyer released a statement to the paper calling the allegations “untrue.” “Mr. Hansen had no involvement in any Cook County theft-related offense, and further, had no knowledge or connection with the alleged death of a state key witness,” lawyer Dan Cain said in the statement. “No evidence exists to suggest otherwise and most importantly there is no truth to the assertion that George Hansen had any connection to such an event.” Lewis said investigators are aware of the allegations of wrongdoing involving Hansen and “mortgage activities” in Chicago. “Our plate is full right here, right now” with the murder investigation, he said. “Until we get all that sorted out and nailed down we’re not looking for…another investigation.” |
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Patrick Crowley is a political reporter and columnist and former business writer for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Email Patrick at: pcrowley@enquirer.com |
