A woman was charged Friday with shooting her father in the head in late May, then hiding the body in a garbage barrel inside his Villa Park business until it was discovered this week, authorities said.
Christy Lentz, 32, of Glen Ellyn faces charges of first-degree murder, obstruction of justice and concealing a homicide in the shooting death of her father, Michael Lentz, 58, of the 0-99 block of Cedar Court in Winfield, said DuPage County State’s Atty. Joseph Birkett.
Christy Lentz and another sister reported their father missing to police in late May.
Because Michael Lentz had homes in Winfield, Ellison Bay, Wis., and Naples, Fla., his initial disappearance did not cause much alarm, Birkett said.
But when investigators went to the Villa Park industrial strip where Michael Lentz ran Industrial Pneumatic Supply Inc., 220 W. Ridge Rd., they noticed a foul odor.
On Wednesday, they discovered the body in the garbage drum. Michael Lentz had been shot twice in the head, authorities said.
“I don’t know if we will ever know the full motive,” Birkett said.
Industrial Pneumatic Supply had been closed since Michael Lentz’s disappearance. A handwritten sign on the door said the business was closed for a family emergency.
Birkett said investigators detained one other person during the investigation, but that person will not be charged.
Attorney Richard Balog, who has represented Industrial Pneumatic Supply for at least a decade, said Michael Lentz had him prepare business documents earlier this year to make Christy Lentz president of the company while he retained ownership.
After the disappearance was reported, police interviewed Michael Lentz’s Winfield neighbors. They said Lentz kept to himself and they had last seen him around Mother’s Day.
DuPage County investigators also asked Door County sheriff’s police to check his Wisconsin vacation home twice in early June, said Door County investigations Sgt. Connie Schuster. Police there found nothing suspicious, she said.
Authorities on Friday encouraged anyone with information in the case to contact the Villa Park Police Department.
Christy Lentz is expected in Bond Court Saturday morning in Wheaton.
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cyednak@tribune.com
