Phone tips keeping detectives on move

Originally published Feb. 13, 1993

Palatine police say they still are tracking down nearly 100 leads in their 5-week-old investigation of the Brown's Chicken & Pasta murders.

Palatine Deputy Police Chief Walt Gasior said the 75-member task force has not been reduced. Of the 458 bona fide leads that have been generated from more than 2,100 phone calls and other sources, 97 leads still are being checked by detectives, he said.

"They are still very busy over there," Gasior said, referring to the special headquarters for the investigative task force in the former Palatine Elementary District 15 headquarters.

The special task force hotline is receiving about 25 calls a day, Gasior said. There is a $100,000 reward for anyone providing information leading to the arrest or conviction of the killer or killers.

Seven people, including the two owners of the restaurant and two Palatine High School students, were killed in what police believe was a robbery gone awry. All seven were killed execution style, police say.

Meanwhile, area groups and businesses are continuing efforts to help the victims' families.

Continental Cablevision of Northern Cook County announced a charity raffle that will feature three top prizes, including two round-trip airline tickets anywhere in the United States donated by Ohlson Travel in Palatine, two round-trip airline tickets to Las Vegas donated by Apple Vacations in Elk Grove Village, and a 25-inch color television donated by Carretera Construction Company. More than 100 other prizes will be raffled.

The raffle will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Continental Cablevision, 1575 Rohlwing Road in Rolling Meadows, and broadcast live on Channel 13. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can contact Continental at 577-1818.

Also, the youth group at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Palatine will donate the proceeds of its fun fair, garage sale and raffle to a memorial fund for former student Michael Castro and the six other victims of the mass murder.

The church's youth group, Living in Faith Together (LIFT), will hold the event from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 20 in St. Theresa's gym at 467 N Benton St.

Raffle prizes include Chicago Bulls tickets, a cellular telephone and a compact disc player. Tickets are $1 each or 12 for $10.

Any financial contributions can be mailed to LIFT at 445 N Benton St., Palatine, IL 60067. Garage sale items can be dropped off at the church before Feb. 20.