Woman Denies Making Up Police Report That Redirected Manhunt in Gliniewicz Case

A 31-year-old Vernon Hills woman is denying claims she made up a false report regarding the suspects accused of shooting and killing Fox Lake Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz in the days following the veteran officer’s death, the Daily Herald reports.

Kristin B. Kiefer, of the 0 to 100 block of Tanwood Court in Vernon Hills, entered not guilty pleas to charges of felony and misdemeanor disorderly conduct for allegations she submitted a false police report and obstructed justice.

The charges stem from a report she made on Sept. 2, a day after Gliniewicz was shot, and lead police to spend five hours combing an area near Route 12 and Route 120 in Volo for the suspected killers, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release.

According to Kiefer’s account to police, two adult males, one white and one black, attempted to gain access to her vehicle at about 9:20 p.m. on Sept. 2 after she pulled over due to car troubles, according to the press release. The men ended up fleeing into a cornfield, according to her report.

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Lake County deputies immediately set up a perimeter and 85 federal, state and local law enforcement officers, 11 canine units and three air support units combed the area for five hours. Canines never picked up a scent and the air units did not spot anyone in the area.

Kiefer maintained her story was true but through further investigation, authorities learned it was not. She later confessed to fabricating the events because ”she wanted attention from a family where she is employed as a nanny,” police said. She also indicated she chose the location because she was aware of the manhunt under way due to the death of Gliniewicz.

Her attorney on Wednesday said Kiefer was still employed but did not say whether she was still working as a nanny for the Vernon Hills family, according to the Daily Herald.

Kiefer is free after posting 10 percent of her $100,000 bail, the newspaper reports.