Park Ridge Death Was Strangulation Murder

Park Ridge police have classified the death investigation of a man as a homicide, and say the cause of death was strangulation.

The dead man, who was found after someone saw a person on the ground and called police, according to Park Ridge Police Commander Lou Jogmen, was identified as Henry W. Nowak of the 6700 block of Oshkosh Street, Chicago. That is located in the city's Edison Park neighborhood, which borders Park Ridge.

Earlier:

Pioneer Press is reporting that Nowak had changed his name to Henry Walter Mallek and was known as Chip Mallek.

"It's an isolated incident, and there's no general concern for people in town," Jogmen said. "We're thoroughly convinced of that."

The police investigation is centering on creating a timeline, and investigators are interviewing family and friends to determine where Nowak was last seen, Jogmen said.

As far as public safety goes, there is no need to avoid the location in the 200 south block of Summit, in the commuter parking area just east of the Park Ridge Metra tracks, where the body was found at 2:18 am. Thursday, he said. Police at that time estimated the man was in his 30s.

Park Ridge Police investigators are coordinating the homicide and are being assisted by the northwest suburban Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT), a team of law enforcement personnel with specialized training.

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