Brown's murders remain unsolved

First published: August 27, 1999

After more than six years of probing, only one thing has remained constant in the Brown's Chicken & Pasta murders. The killer or killers still haven't been apprehended in the region's biggest unsolved murder case.

These days, the Palatine task force - once 100 investigators strong - is down to just five.

And it could shrink even further if retiring investigator Jack Byrnes is not replaced.

Critics of the investigation wonder if the case ever will be solved.

In 1997, the Better Government Association and the Chicago Crime Commission released a scathing review of the investigation that accused Palatine Police Chief Jerry Bratcher and others of botching the case.

The report raised a lot of questions about the investigation, but while it made waves it didn't force changes.

One of the biggest things the BGA report spawned was a third investigation - this time reviewing what the BGA had found about the Brown's case.

The report by a volunteer task force created by the Illinois State Crime Commission is expected to release its critique of the BGA report in a month.