Funeral Home Sues Joliet Teacher Facing Murder Charge

JOLIET, IL — Michael Kazecki, the Joliet District 86 school teacher who was charged with first-degree murder in August, now faces new legal problems at the Will County Courthouse, Joliet Patch has learned. Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home has filed suit against the murder defendant seeking a judgment of $17,211.80, plus court costs, related to the funeral services for Becky Kazecki, 38.

She died in August at St. Joe's hospital. Days earlier, Michael Kazecki called authorities claiming his wife had a medical emergency at their house in the 700 block of McDonough Street, on the city's west side. In the 911 call, Kazecki suggested his wife had become unresponsive as a result of alcohol poisoning, prosecutors previously said in court.

Police determined that the special education teacher at District 86's Gompers Junior High School died of blunt force trauma. Detectives believe that Michael Kazecki beat his wife to death over a three-day period inside their house, according to interviews with police.

According to the new lawsuit against Michael Kazecki, Channahon attorney Steven Troy is representing Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home. The complaint advises the court that Michael Kazecki and Rebecca Kazecki were husband and wife of Aug. 7, 2018 and that she died on Aug. 7.

"The Plaintiff claims it rendered funeral services to Rebecca Kazecki between August 8, 2018, and August 12, 2018," the attorney advises, adding that "the reasonable and customary charge for said services described in Exhibit A … is $17,211.80 and is the reasonable sum for said services."

The court is advised in the Blackburn Funeral Home lawsuit that "Under the Illinois Family Expense Statute, Michael R. Kazecki is liable to the plaintiff for the funeral services rendered to his deceased wife, Rebecca Kazecki.

"The plaintiff has demanded that the defendant, Michael R. Kazecki pay said sum …" attorney Troy notified the court.

After Michael Kazecki was taken into custody at the Will County Jail in early August, Associate Judge Ben Braun rejected calls by the Will County State's Attorney's Office to set bail at $5 million. Judge Braun instead opted to set the Joliet public school teacher's bail at 60 percent less than what prosecutors sought.

A few weeks later, Michael Kazecki's family posted 10 percent of his bail, which was set at $2 million for a first-degree murder charge.

He remains free while his murder charges are pending in Courtroom 402 of Circuit Judge Dan Rippy.

On Jan. 31, Joliet Patch published another exclusive story on the case, reporting that District 86 School Superintendent Theresa Rouse has chosen to keep Michael Kazecki on the District 86 payroll. He remains on indefinite paid leave.

Kazecki continues to receive his regular check every two weeks, just like all the other teachers, with the one exception: he has been ordered to stay off school premises.

As of late January, District 86 had already paid the suspended Washington Junior High School teacher about $30,000 since his August suspension.

RELATED: District 86 Teacher Charged With Murder Still On Payroll