Man charged with soliciting killing of estranged girlfriend

A 42-year-old Chicago man is charged with solicitation to commit murder after police say he asked a friend last summer to help him find someone to kill his estranged girlfriend.

The friend, who works as a chiropractor, reported the request to a Northwest suburban police department, according to authorities.

The report to police, though, did not prevent the death of the girlfriend, 38-year-old Mary Lacey of Glenview. Lacey and her 60- year-old mother, Margaret "Dolly" Ballog, were found shot and stabbed to death Monday in Lacey's Glenview home.

On Thursday, Steven Zirko, of the 5600 block of North Richmond, was charged with solicitation to commit murder by the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Zirko will appear for a bond hearing this morning at the Cook County Circuit Court complex in Skokie.

John Gorman, spokesman for the office of Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine, said the solicitation to commit murder took place last summer.

If convicted, Zirko faces 15 to 30 years in prison.

Zirko was expected to be held at the Glenview Police Department Thursday night.

Police picked up Zirko and another man for questioning on Tuesday. They released the other man, believed to have been a relative of Zirko, on Wednesday.

By all accounts, it appears Zirko and Lacey, who were not married but were the parents of two young children, had a turbulent relationship dating back at least two years, officials said.

Police report that Lacey had numerous orders of protection filed against Zirko. Glenview police confirm that Lacey reported past domestic disputes with Zirko to police in Palatine, Park Ridge, Wilmette and Chicago.

Lacey, who has two adult children from a previous marriage, had recently moved to a house in Glenview.

The death investigation started when Glenview police responded to a 911 call about 11:45 a.m. Monday on the 1900 block of George Court, where they discovered the two dead bodies.

Lacey and her mother had been stabbed and shot, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.