Emington killings brings back memories of 2002 Dwight murders

PONTIAC, Ill. (MCT) — When Dwight Police Chief Tim Henson heard the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department report  three children were among the five victims in a murder-suicide Friday afternoon in Emington, it brought back some unpleasant memories.

In November 2002, Henson and his department investigated the disappearance of two Dwight youngsters, Ashley Gleeson, 5, and Joshua Gleeson, 3. Their father, Patrick Gleeson, failed to return the children to their mother after a scheduled visitation.

Three weeks later, their bodies were recovered in the Des Plaines River near Channahon.

Gleeson, who also was charged with killing his girlfriend, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

“I have kids myself, and it’s hard not to have that photo in your head that it’s your children there, and so it tugs on you emotionally,” Henson said.

Sara McMeen, 30, Daniel Warren, 29, Skyler Lemke, 8, Ian Lemke, 7, and Maggie Warren, 9 months, were among the victims found dead Friday in Emington. Sheriff Martin Meredith declined to release specific details about the investigation and refused to confirm or deny eyewitness reports that McMeen, the mother of the three children, was the shooter.

“When you hear a report about multiple victims, your heart starts racing,” Henson said. “You are going into a situation and you are hearing about multiple victims, but you never know for sure how safe the scene is that you are going into. You have to be concerned whether or not you are going to become a target or not.”

After Meredith arrived on the scene, Henson contacted Livingston County officials and offered his services, if necessary.

“I really didn’t have too many duties with the investigation,” Henson said. “It was more of a case of offering support to the sheriff and his staff. I tried to help with lessons I learned through the course of our investigation.”

Daniel Warren, 29, has roots in the Morris area. He was the son of Wendy Warren of Mazon. He also attended Morris grade schools and Seneca High School, where he graduated in 2000.

No new details about the incident were released on Sunday. Autopsy results are still pending and officials said they hoped to reveal more information about the case later this week.