Four years after her brother's disappearance, Stephanie McNeil is no closer to discovering what happened to her brother.
John Spira, 45, of St. Charles, was last seen Feb. 23, 2007, at Universal Cable Construction near West Chicago, which Spira co-owned. A fire in September 2007 totaled the business. Spira's disappearance was featured last year as part of the Investigation Discovery cable channel show, "Disappeared."
Earlier this week, McNeil learned that Spira's estranged wife, Suzanne Spira – was found dead in her Orchard Park, N.Y. apartment Oct. 30. McNeil said she is convinced that Suzanne Spira had knowledge about McNeil's brother's disappearance.
"I think she knew exactly what happened," McNeil said Friday.
An official for the Erie County (N.Y.) Health Department on Friday confirmed Suzanne Spira's death but would not provide further details.
In February 2009, Suzanne Spira told the Kane County Chronicle she had no idea what happened to her husband.
"I hope and pray for my husband's safe appearance," she said at the time.
McNeil said the fact she is only now finding out about Suzanne Spira's death is another indication that the DuPage County Sheriff's Office is not actively investigating the case.
"I am positive they didn't know about it (her death)," McNeil said.
DuPage County Sheriff spokesperson Dawn Domrose would not comment on whether the office knew about Suzanne Spira's death.
"It is an ongoing investigation," Domrose said. "We don't comment on ongoing investigations."
McNeil said she filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the DuPage County Sheriff's Office in March wanting to see the files on the case. McNeil has filed an appeal with the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
"I want to know what is going on in the case, if anything," McNeil said. "They denied my request, saying it was an open investigation. I think it is only open in the sense it is a file sitting out somewhere."
The DuPage County Sheriff's Office urges anyone with information about the case to call 630-407-2333.