Three weeks after being indicted by a Grand Jury of malfeasance while in office, Former Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Thomas M. Hartwell was found dead at his Palatine office by police conducting a well-being check.
Hartwell was 63 years old.
See political commentator Jeff Ward’s remembrance of Hartwell, “A truly sad ending for a good man”
On Thursday at approximately 9:30 a.m., Kane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Hartwell’s residence on Gingerwood Lane in Elgin Township for a report of a missing adult. Deputies met with a family member who reported that Hartwell, former Kane County Circuit Court Clerk, of the same address, had been missing for approximately 24 hours.
Kane County Sheriff’s deputies then asked Palatine police to check Mr. Hartwell’s law office in their city.
Deputies learned a short time later that Palatine police discovered Mr. Hartwell deceased in his office space.
The investigation into his death is ongoing. The cause of death at this time is unknown.
State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser and Sheriff Ron Hain extended their condolences to Mr. Hartwell’s family and friends. They had no additional comment.
