Family of murder victims can sue police

An Illinois Appellate Court has ruled the family of a Glenview woman who was murdered in 2004 can go forward with a lawsuit against Palatine and Glenview police.

Relatives of Mary Lacey blame the two suburban Chicago police departments for failing to arrest her former boyfriend, Steven Zirko. The family claims the departments were tipped to a murder-for-hire plot.

From the archives Stories Man charged with soliciting killing of estranged girlfriend [12/17/2004] Chiropractor warned police of murder plot [12/18/2004] Family of slain victims hears indictment [01/11/2005] Innocent plea in murder-for-hire case [01/20/2005] More charges for jailed man [09/18/2007]

Prosecutors have accused Zirko of asking a chiropractor to help him find someone to kill Lacey, though the chiropractor refused. Prosecutors said Zirko also asked two others to take part in a murder plot.

Two months later, Lacey and her mother, Margaret Ballog, were found slain in Lacey's Glenview home. Zirko is now awaiting trial.

Family attorney Tom Kelliher says police knew of Steven Zirko's murder plan.