Patch Roundup: Stolen MacBook Helps Police Catch Thief, Nursing-Home Beating Death Investigated

When 14-year-old Kelli O'Laughlin was murdered in October of last year, one of the ways police found her alleged killer was by tracing his and her cell phones. For the second time in six months, Hinsdale police used a similar tactic this week to find a ripped-off Apple product—a $4,500 MacBook Pro—and arrest the accused thief. It's a feel-good story of a criminal outsmarted by the very item he stole!

To the east, in Oak Park, police continue the investigation into an incident in which an 80-year-old nursing-home patient was apparently beaten to death in a fight with a fellow patient; out west in Naperville, the justice process continues for the man accused of murdering elementary-school teacher Shaun Wild.

Here's our most important stories of the week:

Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills—Hinsdale Police Use Apple's Locating Service to Make Felony Burglary Arrest—It was the second time in the last six months that officers used Apple's built-in locating service to find stolen electronics and the suspects who allegedly took them.

Oak Park/River Forest—UPDATE: Death Investigation Continues at Nursing Home—As police in Oak Park continue their investigation into the beating death of an 80-year-old patient at Oak Park Health Care, state health officials have some questions of their own.

La Grange/La Grange Park—Cook County Medical Examiner Rules Train Death a Suicide in La Grange—La Grange police say they are still investigating the death of a Chicago woman whose vehicle was struck by a Metra train in La Grange on Feb. 10.

Lisle—Judge Delays Bond Decision for Man Charged in Naperville Bar Stabbing—Daniel J. Olaska will appear before the court again March 2 after defense attorneys were given time to process additional video and photo evidence they received this week. Olaska is currently being held on $3 million bond.

Western Springs—Residents, Board Spar on Openlands Timber Trails Proposal—Local advocates of the Western Springs open-space concept were told that little action can be taken at the time; anti-fluoridation campaigners met with slightly more success.

Batavia—Batavia Apartment Fire Sends Woman to Hospital—A 62-year-old tenant was trapped at one point in a unit early Thursday morning. Here's what happened.

Wheaton—Former Wheaton Man Sentenced to 35 Years For Producing, Transporting Child Porn—David Vernon Tank, 49, was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in federal prison for producing and transporting child pornography, the FBI announced.

Glen Ellyn—Love Compels Glen Ellyn Resident to Reopen Her Mother's Lingerie Boutique—As loved ones rush to buy flowers, sweets and lingerie for Valentine's Day, Glen Ellyn Patch looks at how a niche shop got its start--and survives.

Elmhurst—Illinois School Districts Soon Could Face 'Catastrophic' Financial Burden—Rumblings in Springfield have District 205 officials "very concerned." Top lawmakers are floating the idea of shifting the burden of funding teacher pensions from the state to the local districts.

Burr Ridge—Burr Ridge Trustees Oppose Extending Contract with Designer—Burr Ridge officials opposed extending a contract worth up to $9,100 with Josephine Goetz, of Interior Environments, Inc., who has overseen the renovation plans.

Geneva—Election 2012: Lauzen Makes Red-Light Cameras an Issue in Kane County Primary—Republican candidate for Kane County Board chairman, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, staged a press conference Thursday at a red-light-camera intersection in Geneva, where his March 20 primary opponent, Kevin Burns, is mayor.

St. Charles—Downtown Restaurant Closes Due to Reconstruction at Nearby Szechwan Building—Rx Cafe in St. Charles shut down Feb. 1 because of complications from the construction.

Downers Grove—Tony Cesare: The New Mr. Mom—Dads, be as proud of your domestic chops as you are about changing your own oil or mowing the lawn.