Boyfriend Of Missing Calumet City Woman Charged With Murder
UPDATED: 10/21/2012 12:33 p.m.
CALUMET CITY, Ill. (CBS) – The live-in boyfriend of a missing Calumet City woman was charged Saturday with her murder, police announced.
Donal E. Clark, 42, was charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide in connection with the disappearance of 42-year-old Gena Chiodo, police said at an evening news conference.
Chiodo, of 1312 Price Avenue, reportedly was last seen at her home last weekend. Police responded Wednesday to reports she was missing by going to the woman's residence and had to force their way inside, where they found Clark, Calumet City Police Chief Edward Gilmore told reporters.
"We found significant evidence in the house that there may have been foul play in the house," he said.
Clark came to the police station to file a report. He became the primary suspect in Chiodo's disappearance and was taken into custody Wednesday evening, Gilmore said.
Calumet City police have not recovered Chiodo's body.
"We will continue to look in places that leads take us in this investigation, until we find her," Gilmore said.
The department was aided by a variety of police agencies in the investigation, he said. Gilmore said it's rare for charges to brought against someone without having a body.
Asked if Clark is cooperating, Gilmore said, "I can't say that he's cooperating at this time."
Police and Chiodo's family feared the worst, because of what was found at her Calumet City home after she disappeared a week ago.
Sources said a sheriff's bloodhound was requested in the case Wednesday night, after blood was found there.
Friday afternoon, some of Chiodo's friends were distributing 1,000 flyers, in hopes of finding someone who might have seen her.
"She would never leave and not call somebody," said co-worker Donna Wuchter. "All we want to do is find her now, and get her home, or at least find her. We want her back."
Chiodo's best friend, Michelle Mack, said, she's "a beautiful person; didn't deserve it, didn't disappear on her own. It's just a waste."
Crime scene technicians were at Chiodo's home again on Friday, searching her garage.
Gilmore said on Friday, "We have to now think that it may be she may have become the victim of foul play."
Friends and volunteers have gathered to search for the body of Gena Chiodo. They are headed to Powderhorn Lake and Wolf Lake in the Hegewisch area. Friends said Chiodo and Clark liked to fish at these locations. They also plan to search wooded areas and lakes in Glenwood, since Clark is from there. Wapo Lake was also mentioned.
