John Spira "Chicago Johnny", M, 45 missing Chicago Illinois 2/23/2007

[MaFitz]

I had not even heard this man was missing until I read about Lisa Stebic's family assisting his family in the search for him. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are strange.

The following is snipped from his web page:

John Michael Spira, 45 years old, 5'8", 165 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes. He has been missing since Friday, February 23, 2007, 7:00 pm. from West Chicago, Illinois.
Resident of St. Charles, Illinois. Last seen wearing blue jeans, black turtleneck sweater, black shoes, olive green aviator jacket.

This is no ordinary guy; as hundreds of friends and relatives will attest. Everyone has something wonderful to say about John Spira who has been missing since Friday, February 23, 2007; last seen at 7:00 pm at his workplace on County Farm Road near North Avenue in unincorporated West Chicago, Illinois.

To report information call St. Charles Police Detective Troy Peacock at (630) 377-4435 or DuPage County Sheriff’s Investigation Commander Mark Edwards at (630) 407-2321

For more information on this missing man please go to his page at http://www.johnspira.com/

[MaFitz]

Some interesting facts on John's disappearance:

John placed a cell phone call to a friend at 7:09pm confirming that he would meet for a dinner date in Oak Brook, IL. at 8:30pm, but he was never to arrive.

While no further communication was received from John Spira, his cell phone did continue to 'ping' off of two (2) local service towers until 11:00pm that night.

John's friend, Renata Bielskis, reported that she had contacted the St. Charles Police Department shortly after his uncharacteristic disappearance on the evening of February 23rd. The St. Charles P. D. failed to recognize Miss Bielskis' concerns for reason that she was not qualified to file a report.

John and his estranged wife, Suzanne, had agreed on the final details of their divorce settlement on the morning of February 23rd. She was finally coaxed into filing an official missing person's report with the St. Charles Police Department at 5:30am of the following Sunday, February 25th, 2007. The couple's divorce was to be official on March the 8th.

Although this case was originally filed with the St. Charles, IL. Police Department, it is now categorized under the jurisdiction of the Du Page County Sheriff's Office for reason that Spira disappeared in an unincorporated area within the parameters of Du Page County.

Some of John's employees at Universal Cable have officially reported a large roll of plastic wrap material to have been missing from the premises, but the Du Page County Police Department's position remains that they believe John to have simply walked away from his family and his life, stating that there is no evidence to prove otherwise.


John's Business was burned to the ground Sunday, September 16, 2007. The (now) gutted building that was once home to former Du Page County "Business of the year" nominee, Universal Cable Construction Inc., is co-owned by John's estranged wife and the wife of John's business partner, David W. Stubben.

[MaFitz]

News Links on Mr. Spira:

Missing Man's Case Lost in Media
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=5821323

Missing Men
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/683930,2_1_AU06_OLSEN_S1.article


Another estranged spouse just vanishes. I wonder how many estranged spousese disappear in this country every year?

[omsk99]

I remember reading about this case on Crime Library back in summer. Here are the links:

First story:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0707/1801_john_spira.html

Update:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/1007/2301_john_spira1.html

[MaFitz]

"The case took an even stranger twist last month when John's business, Universal Cable Construction Inc., burned to the ground a day after his family posted a missing persons billboard outside."

There are a lot of questions that come to mind on this case. Was the separation with his estranged wife amicable? Was ownership of the business being disputed between them? Was there life insurance? Does his estranged wife have a boyfriend? Has there been escalating tension between him and his wife?

I think it is clear from the things that are known about his case that he did not just walk away from his life.

[omsk99]

Originally posted by MaFitz
"The case took an even stranger twist last month when John's business, Universal Cable Construction Inc., burned to the ground a day after his family posted a missing persons billboard outside."

There are a lot of questions that come to mind on this case. Was the separation with his estranged wife amicable? Was ownership of the business being disputed between them? Was there life insurance? Does his estranged wife have a boyfriend? Has there been escalating tension between him and his wife?

I think it is clear from the things that are known about his case that he did not just walk away from his life. [/*]


I agree, and those are really good questions. Why burn his business AFTER his missing poster was posted on the billboard?! Can't be a coincidence!

[MaFitz]

:rose: Bumping for Chicago Johnny:rose:

I am curious about why his business was burned right after he went missing and the billboard went up to omsk.

[MaFitz]

Bumping for Johnny:rose:

I am sorry for his family having to get through a holiday with him still not found. :(

[Brooke]

Originally posted by MaFitz
:rose: Bumping for Chicago Johnny:rose:

I am curious about why his business was burned right after he went missing and the billboard went up to omsk. [/*]


From what I read his business was burned down almost 7 months after he went missing but soon after they put a billboard out in front.

:rose: For Johnny

[n/t]

Wow. Very strange case. Sounds like a gang/mob/payback related crime. IMO!

[KellyJolkowski]

John is now on Project Jason's 18 Wheel Angel campaign. A special poster has been made for him and can be downloaded and printed for placement. More information about the program, and the link for the poster can be found here:

http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

In addition to the campaign, John is also featured in a national trucking publication, either Through the Gears or Independent Contractor. These free magazines are distributed in truck stops nationwide and have a circulation of about 150,000.

Through the Gears and Independent Contractor are two of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they each feature two missing persons each per month. You can pick up your free copies at a local truck stop, but if it's far from you, you may want to call and ask if they carry that magazine. These are NOT with the regular for purchase magazines.

You can also see the current campaign information on this Target Media Partners site: http://www.thetrucker.com/Features/Missing_Week_3.aspx

We hope this helps in the search for John. Please consider printing and placing a poster in businesses in your community.

Updates on Johns Case: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=723.0

[MaFitz]

Its wonderful that you have gotten involved in this case Kelly. It receives so little attention even though its obvious he went missing under suspicious circumstances. :shrug:

[HarlettOhara]

John's photo has also been added on our main website slide show. Hopefully with enough places adding his pix and story it will draw more public interest.

you can see his slideshow pix
at http://helpfindthemissing.org

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by MaFitz
Its wonderful that you have gotten involved in this case Kelly. It receives so little attention even though its obvious he went missing under suspicious circumstances. :shrug: [/*]

Thanks. We've been working with the family since close to the beginning. His sister has become vocal about the case and has done a good job of keeping John in the media, even though she is from out of state. For a missing adult male, he's had more than average attention, actually. It's never enough, of course...until the loved one is found.

[MaFitz]

Well I will keep checking the news sites for updates on him. I hope he will be found. I had read somewhere that his sister lives in AZ.

Did they investigate the estranged wife?

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by MaFitz
Well I will keep checking the news sites for updates on him. I hope he will be found. I had read somewhere that his sister lives in AZ.

Did they investigate the estranged wife? [/*]

Yes, but to what extent, I do not know. I don't think they have been real agressive in the investigation, despite all the red flags.

[MaFitz]

Maybe I am buying into statistics but I think its a good area to look into. Especially since he co-owned the business with her. It is just too convenient with the divorce being final on March 8, and she had to be pushed to file a missing person's report on him and then the business she and John's business partner's wife owned with him burns to the ground after he goes missing.

Way to many areas of concern for them to be dismissive of his case. The missing roll of plastic could mean that he was buried. You wouldn't use it to put someone in the water but you would wrap them in plastic to bury them.

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by MaFitz
Maybe I am buying into statistics but I think its a good area to look into. Especially since he co-owned the business with her. It is just too convenient with the divorce being final on March 8, and she had to be pushed to file a missing person's report on him and then the business she and John's business partner's wife owned with him burns to the ground after he goes missing.

Way to many areas of concern for them to be dismissive of his case. The missing roll of plastic could mean that he was buried. You wouldn't use it to put someone in the water but you would wrap them in plastic to bury them. [/*]

His sister is painfully aware of what these things might mean. I can't say more than that. Thank you for the observations.

[MaFitz]

Bumping for John and his family especially his sister who has been his greatest champion since he went missing. :rose: :rose:

[carterkatt]

Bump

With the male (?) body found in southern Chicago suburbs, in Lynwood, IL????

[Justins Mom]

bump