BY SUN-TIMES STAFF
A man found dismembered in a Southeast Side garage this month has been positively identified as a missing man, and his death has been ruled a homicide.
The dismembered body of Milan Lekich, 51, was discovered wrapped in plastic and a blanket in a garage in the 13300 block of South Avenue M about 3:20 p.m. on Oct. 5, according to according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office and Chicago Police.
An autopsy found Lekich died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and his death has been ruled a homicide, a spokesman for the medical examiner’s office said Tuesday.
A woman who called police reported a strange smell coming from the garbage in the garage of the Hegewisch home, according to a police source. The woman looked inside the garbage bag and found the man’s remains.
Police issued a missing person report for Lekich that said he had last been seen in June 2013 and possibly could be in Florida or Indiana. According to that report, Lekich’s last known residence was on the block where his remains were later found.
Part of the search for Lekich, 51, involved trying to talk to his estranged and now-deceased wife, Teresa Jarding, who had been living in Fowler, Indiana, 100 miles south of Chicago. Jarding, 49, and Lekich married in Las Vegas in March 2013, according to court records.
Jarding’s mother, Nena Metoyer, is also missing. She had been staying with her daughter, according to Fowler police. Metoyer, 68, came up from her home in Florida to take care her of her daughter and hasn’t been seen since August.
Chicago Police said Tuesday morning no arrests had been made in connection with Lekich’s death.