Purdy
Police are looking for a former Oswego man suspected of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in a hotel room outside San Francisco late last week.Michael J. Purdy, 35, is the prime suspect in the murder of Kristie Grzeszczak, 29, his former girlfriend of four years, said Sgt. Brian Laurence of the Pleasanton, Calif., Police Department.
The two were last seen together Thursday afternoon walking into an extended-stay hotel, where Grzeszczak was living until she could find a permanent residence. Grzeszczak had moved to the Bay Area Dec. 8 to take a job as a mortgage underwriter, and Purdy was coming to visit her.
She picked him up at a Greyhound bus station Thursday afternoon and drove him back to the hotel, where he was to stay in her room overnight, Laurence said.
Her co-workers became worried when Grzeszczak did not show up at the office, so they called the hotel to check on her. A desk clerk went up to the room at about 6:10 a.m. and found her dead of multiple stab wounds, Laurence said. Police have not recovered the weapon, believed to be some type of knife.
There was no evidence of sexual assault.
Purdy was last seen entering the hotel with Grzeszczak, Laurence said.
"We have no idea where he's at, and we're trying to get the word out there," he said.
Investigators have sent photos of Purdy to bus terminals, airports and highway police. They are trying to find Purdy's father, who they believe lived in Oswego, as well as friends who have spoken to Purdy recently or have any relevant information.
"He could have walked away, hitchhiked or taken mass transit," Laurence said. "We're just waiting for someone to call us up and tell us where he's at."
Police have not uncovered any history of domestic violence between Grzeszczak and Purdy, Laurence said.
"It's early on, so we're still following up," he said. "We're going to be going back and talking to people who knew them to explore that angle."
Grzeszczak's parents said they never felt she was in danger with Purdy.
The two met five years ago while working at the same company in Chicago, said Irene Grzeszczak. They began dating about a year later. Purdy got along well with the family and even went fishing a few times with Grzeszczak's father, Richard, Irene Grzeszczak said.
"He was here a lot," she said. "We never, ever suspected anything."
Grzeszczak broke off their relationship about seven months ago, Irene Grzeszczak said. Purdy called her constantly at home and work and would show up unannounced -- often unwelcome, Irene Grzeszczak said. He was persistent but, as far as she knows, never threatening.
"The only thing she started saying was that they argued a lot," Irene Grzeszczak said. "She didn't think that she was unsafe with him. Kristie trusted everybody."
Grzeszczak wanted to leave Purdy behind when she moved to the West Coast, Richard Grzeszczak said. Her friends wanted the same for her.
"There were friends who told him `No, don't go, she doesn't want you out there,' " he said.
"They were broken up. The relationship was done," he said. "She didn't want him following her to California. But he showed up.
Purdy lived in the 2800 block of Light Road in Oswego until August, when he was evicted, according to Kendall County court records. He has lived in Woodridge, Schaumburg and, most recently, Chicago, Laurence said.
Contact John Zaremba at (630) 801-5414 or jzaremba@scn1.com.
WHERE TO CALL Pleasanton, Calif., police: (925) 931-5100
Ex-Oswegoan sought in death of ex-girlfriend
Purdy
Police are looking for a former Oswego man suspected of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in a hotel room outside San Francisco late last week.Michael J. Purdy, 35, is the prime suspect in the murder of Kristie Grzeszczak, 29, his former girlfriend of four years, said Sgt. Brian Laurence of the Pleasanton, Calif., Police Department.
The two were last seen together Thursday afternoon walking into an extended-stay hotel, where Grzeszczak was living until she could find a permanent residence. Grzeszczak had moved to the Bay Area Dec. 8 to take a job as a mortgage underwriter, and Purdy was coming to visit her.
She picked him up at a Greyhound bus station Thursday afternoon and drove him back to the hotel, where he was to stay in her room overnight, Laurence said.
Her co-workers became worried when Grzeszczak did not show up at the office, so they called the hotel to check on her. A desk clerk went up to the room at about 6:10 a.m. and found her dead of multiple stab wounds, Laurence said. Police have not recovered the weapon, believed to be some type of knife.
There was no evidence of sexual assault.
Purdy was last seen entering the hotel with Grzeszczak, Laurence said.
"We have no idea where he's at, and we're trying to get the word out there," he said.
Investigators have sent photos of Purdy to bus terminals, airports and highway police. They are trying to find Purdy's father, who they believe lived in Oswego, as well as friends who have spoken to Purdy recently or have any relevant information.
"He could have walked away, hitchhiked or taken mass transit," Laurence said. "We're just waiting for someone to call us up and tell us where he's at."
Police have not uncovered any history of domestic violence between Grzeszczak and Purdy, Laurence said.
"It's early on, so we're still following up," he said. "We're going to be going back and talking to people who knew them to explore that angle."
Grzeszczak's parents said they never felt she was in danger with Purdy.
The two met five years ago while working at the same company in Chicago, said Irene Grzeszczak. They began dating about a year later. Purdy got along well with the family and even went fishing a few times with Grzeszczak's father, Richard, Irene Grzeszczak said.
"He was here a lot," she said. "We never, ever suspected anything."
Grzeszczak broke off their relationship about seven months ago, Irene Grzeszczak said. Purdy called her constantly at home and work and would show up unannounced -- often unwelcome, Irene Grzeszczak said. He was persistent but, as far as she knows, never threatening.
"The only thing she started saying was that they argued a lot," Irene Grzeszczak said. "She didn't think that she was unsafe with him. Kristie trusted everybody."
Grzeszczak wanted to leave Purdy behind when she moved to the West Coast, Richard Grzeszczak said. Her friends wanted the same for her.
"There were friends who told him `No, don't go, she doesn't want you out there,' " he said.
"They were broken up. The relationship was done," he said. "She didn't want him following her to California. But he showed up.
Purdy lived in the 2800 block of Light Road in Oswego until August, when he was evicted, according to Kendall County court records. He has lived in Woodridge, Schaumburg and, most recently, Chicago, Laurence said.
Contact John Zaremba at (630) 801-5414 or jzaremba@scn1.com.
WHERE TO CALL Pleasanton, Calif., police: (925) 931-5100
