An unexpected speaker during Thursday’s demonstration for Mary Alice Love, the woman shot and killed by Mundelein police last month, was the niece of Mundelein Mayor Robin Meier, who gave a tearful rebuke of her aunt for missing the event.
Katie Steele, who said she lives near the village hall where the demonstration was held, said her daughter actually happened to know Love, but it was unclear to what regard. In unprepared remarks, she tearfully apologized to the Love family.
“I’m just sad and disappointed that my aunt isn’t here,” Steele said. “I never thought that my family would be somebody that wouldn’t show up to something like this.”
In a statement, Meier confirmed the woman is her niece. Meier said Steele had been a “favorite” relative of hers growing up, but had chosen to estrange herself from the family. Meier said they haven’t spoken “in years.”
“When you decide to run for public office, you know that private family matters may become public. No one knows better than me that adult mental health and other issues may make it difficult to give people the aid needed,” Meier said.
In response to some of the comments made by Steele, Meier said that ongoing investigations and cases of potential litigation mean public figures like herself “generally aren’t at liberty to comment in certain situations.”
She also said her absence was due to attending two other events that evening “honoring people who had dedicated and given many years of their lives to the Village of Mundelein.”
“It was my honor and obligation to thank them for their outstanding service to Mundelein and appreciate all that they and their families gave up throughout the years in dedication to Mundelein.”
Online, Meier’s Facebook page indicates she attended a going-away party for a local firefighter and then a dinner honoring retired firefighters and paramedics the same evening as the demonstration.
