Woman fatally stabbed in Jefferson Park; off-duty detective fires at offender, whose body is later found

by BRIAN NADIG

A 57-year-old man, who had been released on electronic monitoring after he reportedly tried to strangle and kidnap his estranged wife in October, fatally stabbed her at about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the 5600 block of West Leland Avenue in Jefferson Park.

An off-duty detective fired shots toward the assailant, but he was able to flee the area, and the detective sustained a graze wound to a leg during the incident.

Several hours later the husband was found dead in a parked vehicle in the 5500 block of West Leland Avenue. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has not issued a cause of death, but police have said that they are investigating whether his death was a suicide.

The Network, a group of more than 40 member victim advocacy organizations, said the justice system failed the victim, and the case’s judge, Thomas Nowinski, should be reassigned from the Cook County Circuit Court Domestic Violence Division.

“She was being tormented by this guy,” one advocate said.

Prosecutors had petition for Constantin Beldie to be held in county jail pending trial on his October charges, but Nowinski released him.

Beldie was arrested on Oct. 7 in the 17th (Albany Park) District after he reportedly had attacked his wife, placing his hands over her face and trying to pull her into a vehicle, but she was able to escape. He plead not guilty to the charges.

An order of protection was issued in January in an effort to keep Constantin Beldie away from his 54-year-old wife Lacramioara Beldie, and in March they agreed to a “no contact order.” She had reported that he sent her a message indicating how easy it was to kill somebody, according to county records.

The Sun-Times reported that a source close to Nowinski said that prosecutors had failed to disclose important background information in the case. Nowinski also was the judge in a case in which he reportedly denied a protective order against a convicted felon who was later charged with stabbing a woman and killing her 11-year-old son. 

The Sun-Times also reports that Illinois Appellate Court precedent states that judges must consider GPS monitoring and the least restrictive conditions of release.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the incident on Leland because the detective fired his weapon. 

The incident marks the third murder in 2024 in the 16th (Jefferson Park) District.

• 
  Police search for reported suspects after exchange of gunfire between group and security guard working at Jefferson Park CTA terminal
  A private security guard working at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., reportedly returned fire after a group of three people started harassing him and then fired their guns toward him during an incident at about 5:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, according to Chicago police. Officers reported finding 23 shell casings and
• 
  Man stabbed on CTA Blue Line near Harlem Ave.; suspects arrested in connection with car break-in on Victoria; man steals from car at gas station in Forest Glen
  A man was stabbed in his hand at about 4:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on a CTA Blue Line train near the Harlem station, 5550 N. Harlem Ave., after a man with a knife allegedly stole his belongings and attacked him, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. The 31-year-old man reported that he was
• 
  45th Ward Dems endorse S Gronkiewicz-Doran for alderperson
  by BRIAN NADIG 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt and his Dems 45 organization have endorsed Jefferson Park resident S Gronkiewicz-Doran in the ward’s aldermanic race, which will be held on Feb. 23, 2027. Incumbent Alderman James Gardiner, who is on leave from his firefighting job while he serves on the City Council, is seeking
• 
  New business in the works for former CVS site at Milwaukee & Lawrence in Jefferson Park
  by BRIAN NADIG A new business, possibly a daycare, is in the works for the former CVS Pharmacy at the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Lawrence avenues. The pharmacy closed in January of 2020, but CVS reportedly continued to pay rent for several years after the store’s closing. The site includes an approximately 10,000-square-foot building
• 
  Gunfire reported at Jefferson Park CTA Terminal on Saturday morning
  by BRIAN NADIG A possible suspect is in custody after gunfire was reported at or near the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., at about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, according to Chicago police. Officers recovered four shell casings, and detectives are reviewing area surveillance footage, according to police. It’s not clear at

This is just part of today’s coverage. Get the full story - every article, every ad, every page. Subscribe now.

The Latest From Our Community