DuPage murder suspect's life as cop under scrutiny

DuPage County prosecutors are seeking a judge's permission to introduce evidence about a murder suspect's past life as a police officer.

John Gilbert, 47, of Chicago is charged in the February 2009 shooting death of 38-year-old Jason Dragos near Burr Ridge.

According to court documents, Gilbert was a part-time police officer in some of the Chicago area's most crime-ridden jurisdictions including Phoenix and Maywood between 1999 and 2007.

Prosecutors are seeking to use that information as evidence to demonstrate Gilbert has a working knowledge of firearms, crime scene investigations and “how to avoid detection during a police investigation.”

Gilbert's attorney, however, says the information is irrelevant.

“He is not Drew Peterson,” Jed Stone said. “It's a stretch to suggest that, because John Gilbert served the community as a part-time police officer many years ago, he is now more likely guilty than innocent.”

Dragos' body was discovered Feb. 9, 2009, in a closet at the SAIA Trucking Co. near Burr Ridge, where Gilbert was his sales supervisor, after his wife reported him missing.

According to police, Gilbert and Dragos, of Highland, Ind., met at the office the day before Dragos' body was found. They were planning for a presentation in Chicago.

Police said the presentation was canceled after Gilbert left the office and checked himself into a hospital, claiming he nearly had a heart attack over an e-mail in which Dragos said company executives forced him to “secretly follow” Gilbert and report back on his whereabouts and actions.

Investigators said they later discovered that the e-mail, which described a “witch hunt” against Gilbert and his family, had been generated on a computer recovered from Gilbert's home.

Prosecutors have alleged in court that Gilbert was stressed and angry that the victim “went over his head” at work.

Authorities believe Dragos was shot with a .40-caliber gun. No murder weapon has been recovered, according to court records, but investigators say Gilbert reported two firearms, including a .40-caliber Glock, stolen in 2005.

DuPage County Judge George Bakalis is scheduled to hear arguments surrounding Gilbert's past work as a police officer at a hearing in January.

If convicted, Gilbert could be sentenced to natural life in prison. He remains in the DuPage County jail without bond.