Ehlenfeldt daughters to decide Brown's fate

Originally published Jan. 26, 1993

The future of the Brown's Chicken & Pasta restaurant where seven people were killed 17 days ago will be left up to the three daughters of the murdered owners, company president Frank Portillo said Monday.

"We are committed to help the three Ehlenfeldt daughters do as they wish," Portillo said.

Restaurant owners Dick and Lynn Ehlenfeldt of Arlington Heights were among those killed in the Jan. 8 massacre. Their daughters, Joy, 18, Dana, 21, and Jennifer, 23, said a week after the murders that they would like to see the restaurant reopen someday to keep alive their parents' dreams.

Palatine Police Chief Jerry Bratcher said in a recent interview the building could be released to its owners in about a week.

David Yahn, director of the Palatine Health Department, said a firm experienced in cleaning such areas as hospitals has volunteered two employees to clean the restaurant and remove food after police complete their investigation in the building.

Meanwhile, Portillo said employees of the Palatine Brown's restaurant have been offered jobs at Brown's restaurants in Arlington Heights and other towns or at other businesses in Palatine.

One former employee, assistant manager Ken Pittenger, said he is considering an offer to work at the Arlington Heights Brown's restaurant.

The offer, he said, is attractive because he knows the job so well, but he hesitates because the tragedy is so fresh in his mind.