Ex-Kane Co. Official Took His Own Life: Coroner

KANE COUNTY, IL — The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled that former Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Thomas Hartwell, who was found dead Thursday morning in Palatine, took his own life. His death comes weeks after he was indicted on official misconduct and money laundering charges in Kane County.

On Friday, the medical examiner's report revealed the cause of death for Hartwell, 63, was suicide.

Authorities found Hartwell's body at his law office at 330 W. Colfax St. in Palatine Thursday morning after a family member reported Hartwell missing from his home near Elgin.

Felony charges were filed late last month against Hartwell. He was charged with theft by deception of more than $100,000, official misconduct, wire fraud, money laundering, government employee misapplying funds and income tax fraud.

• Ex-Kane Co. Court Clerk Accused Of Stealing County Funds

Hartwell had been expected to appear in court next Friday for a status hearing in the case, according to online court records. Last week, Ogle County Judge Matthew Klahn issued an order requiring Hartwell appear in person for the May 26 hearing.

According to an April 26 press release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, Hartwell misappropriated nearly $120,000 in Kane County funds between December 2018 and November 2020.

On several occasions, he paid the funds to Gutierrez Productions Inc. and Dar Illuminations LLC, which are businesses owned by Robert Gutierrez, 73, of Crabapple Lane in St. Charles, according to prosecutors.

Hartwell spent the county money to promote a May 2020 event billed as a PPE/care package giveaway but actually was a political event for which "county funds should not have been approved," according to the news release.

The event, promoted in a May 14, 2020, press release, happened at New Life Covenant Church in Elgin on May 16. People were given protective face masks, hand sanitizer, food items and fresh Oberweis milk during the giveaway, according to the news release.

Hartwell is also accused of receiving $15,000 in kickbacks from Gutierrez. Gutierrez has been charged with providing kickbacks and theft by deception for his alleged role in the financial scheme.

The two-year investigation by Illinois State Police and The Illinois Department of Revenue also revealed Hartwell did not report income on his 2018, 2019 and 2020 income taxes, and also provided false information about his income to his accountant, according to prosecutors.

Both Gutierrez and Hartwell, who were arrested at their homes on April 27, were later released after posting bond.

Hain and Mosser extended their condolences to Hartwell's family and friends in the joint statement Thursday.

Hartwell ran uncontested in 2016 for the circuit clerk seat. In 2020, Hartwell, a Republican, lost to Democrat Theresa Barreiro. Hartwell had 109,187 votes compared to Barreiro's 115,813 votes.