Widow Sued In Killer's Faked Death Scheme

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WBBM) - Survivors of a slain Arlington Heights man are suing both the widow and the estate of the alleged killer.

The circuit court suit blames the murder of 20-year-old Justin Newman on the late Ari Squire but also names Squire's wife Denise as a co-conspirator, even though she has not been arrested, charged, or indicted.

Indeed her attorney, Elliott Pinsell, said Ms. Squire knew nothing about the scheme and actually passed a polygraph administered by a private attorney.

Lake County Sheriff's police say Ari Squire was short of money after pleading guilty to overbilling Medicare for $2.3 million.

Lake County investigators say Squire befriended Newman, then drugged him, ran him over with a Chevy Silverado, dressed Newman in Squire's own clothes, then set the body alight.

Investigators say they first thought the body was squire.  But when Newman's mother filed a missing person's report, they checked further and found Newman, not Squire had died.

Police who heard of a party the Squire family held after his supposed death led them to track down Squire in a Missouri Motel where he shot himself to death with a .40 caliber pistol.

Police also said that while Ms. Squire said she didn't know anything about any plot, she maintain text message contact with her husband after his supposed death.

Loevy says that makes her a co-conspirator as far as he's concerned.

The suit is filed by Newman's mother Donna FioRito, and Newman's brother Frank Testa III.