Baffling Disappearance of St. Charles Man Still Unsolved

Feb. 23 is the sixth anniversary of the day John Spira last was seen at his West Chicago business.

He was a brother, a husband, a St. Charles blues guitarist and the owner of a West Chicago business. And he’s been missing for fox six years. Last seenabout 7 p.m. Feb. 23, 2007, John Spira’s disappearance left friends and family reeling and has baffled police ever since. Arizona attorney Stephanie Spira McNeil, Spira’s sister, has not given up on the search for her brother, although with time she has come to believe he was murdered. She told the Huffington Post in November, saying the years without knowing what happened, why he was killed and how, and where he is now have made the loss that much more difficult. So has the idea that her brother’s killer has not been brought to justice. DePage County authorities have not said whether they …

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Coroner-Elect Rob Russell Keeps Promise to Retire from Current Position

Russell retires from DuPage County Sheriff's Office. Next step is accreditation for the Kane County coroner's office.

Kane County Coroner-elect Rob Russell followed through on his first campaign promise—even before officially taking office. On Nov. 23, Russell retired as a sergeant from the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office to devote his full time and attention to his upcoming role as the next Kane County Coroner. When asked about his 20-year career with the Sheriff’s Office, Russell replied, “I have enjoyed my time there, and I will miss everyone. I have had the privilege of working for one of the most highly accredited law enforcement offices in the county. Doing so has prepared me well for my new role as coroner.” Russell plans to begin the accreditation process, which he says will help to professionalize the coroner’s office and restore credibility. “The…

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Five Years Later: Sister Still Searching for Missing St. Charles Man

Arizona attorney Stephanie Spira McNeil has been persistently searching for more than five years for her brother John Spira, a St. Charles resident and West Chicago businessman and noted musician who disappeared Feb. 23, 2007.