Police Search For Murder Suspect In Manteno
Breaking News Update (04/21) – Mr Corey Gardner has turned himself in to the local sheriffs department last night. He has been charged with first degree murder. The search for him in Manteno included several dogs and even a helicopter but they were unable to find him. Thankfully Corey Gardner turned himself in. I’m sure residents of our quiet little town will sleep easier this weekend knowing that he is behind bars. I wanted to point out that Mr. Gardner is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In my initial reporting (see below) I did not make that distinction.
Manteno Police had tried stopping Gardner’s vehicle and pursued him a few miles to the west of Manteno. Gardner was able to escape by turning off his headlights and driving through corn fields. Two others in the Durango were caught after crashing into a ditch. I’m still shocked that Gardner was able to elude our local law enforcement officers for so long, especially with all of the nearby agencies providing support.
Police have released the names of the two people who were in the vehicle with Gardner: Kimberly L. Nowlan-McCue (33) and Bruce Skalon (28), both from Kankakee County. After a quick search I found out that Bruce Skalon is a sex offender from Kankakee. He was charged with abducting a child and exposing himself. This is unrelated to the murder investigation but I thought that it was worth mentioning since they were both passengers who were in the Durango with Gardner when he fled police in Manteno. Gardner may be innocent until proven guilty but the company he keeps is a sure sign that something is wrong with him.
Breaking News Update (04/21) – On Friday morning police spotted Garder in a vehicle just west of Manteno on 2250 West Road. There were three passengers in the vehicle. After driving through corn fields to escape the police the vehicle eventually crashed into a ditch and they all fled on foot. Police were able to apprehend two of the men but Garder was able to get away. Read the full story below for more info.
Murder Suspect On The Loose In Manteno, Illinois
Law enforcement officers were scouring Manteno today in a search for a wanted murder suspect. The ongoing hunt is for Corey B. Gardner (27), who is wanted for the recent murder of Tawayne Sharp in Kankakee. Mr. Sharp was found shot to death in his vehicle on a road in Limestone township. The search was centered a little to the west of Manteno and many citizens are rightfully worried. Just knowing that a potential murder is roaming our neighborhood is enough to keep children inside with locked doors. Corey Gardener was spotted driving a 1999 Dodge Durango but he was apparently able to get away. Though it is unlikely that Mr. Gardener is still in Manteno I would suggest residents take a few safety precautions until this fugitive is caught.
I’m simply referring to making sure that your doors are locked and that you remain vigilant. Gardener should be considered armed and dangerous so if you see him do not approach him or try to follow him. Simply call the police right away and the Manteno police department will handle it. There are several other agencies involved in this man-hunt so I am sure that he will be apprehended in short order.
Mr Gardener may have friends in Manteno who may be helping him hide. Aiding a fugitive could land someone in jail so if you or anyone you know has any information about his location you should immediately contact the police.
I was unable to find a picture of the suspected murderer and the initial police reports do not specify the color of the Durango. I will update this post with additional details as soon as they become available.
I was wondering what all of the police were doing. Is there a picture of this guy available anywhere?
How could he get away from the Manteno PD? Maybe if they didn’t spend all of their time smoking (not sure what) inside of the car wash at Shell they could actually do their job right for once. This is an embarrassment to the community.
I read somewhere that the police “caught” Gardner when he actually just turned himself in. It’s pretty sad when a man can get away from inept police officers. The rumor girls at my work said that the guy killed in Kankakee was Gardner’s drug dealer.
They like to say CAUGHT!! Makes it sound like the police actually did something.. Trust me folks.. If they were doing their jobs instead of sitting at the station or thier girlfriends house.. He wouldn’t of gotten away.. But, this is Manteno!! Joke police department.. And the corruption of this Chief Bernie Thompson.. The Mayor should resign from that huge mistake.. But.. They are BUDDIES!!!! Kiss kiss..
The police were actually responding to a bogus tip from the females estranged husband, Corey McCue. He was thrilled to see her get arrested. Gardner wasn’t even in the car. The police DIDN’T hunt for them for an hour. The male was thrown from the car and taken to the hospital and the female climbed up the embankment where she waited for the police to come. The car the police chased didn’t belong to Gardner, but the male driving it. Maybe the police should check into the dealings of Corey McCue. He should be arrested, but he has too many friends in the Bradley Police Department. His last name carries a lot of weight there. Of course the area police feel sorry for him because his mother is a murderess. Truthfully, the apple didn’t fall far from that tree. Corey McCue should be arrested for filing false police reports, damage to the Bradley house he rented, Spousal abuse and lastly, cruelty to animals since he just poisoned a 10 week old pit pull puppy with rat poison.
The truth is Bruce Skalon (aka Ghost) is the chief of a gang in Kankakee called the Satan deciples. Corey gardner was a follower who wanted to fit in. He was told by a guy they call lil D to rob twain sharp. Ghost was more involved in this murder then the police are paying attention to. The Kankakee police are putting two murders on Corey Gardner because they found a gun in the field in Manteno that was thrown from the car that night by Ghost. Since the gun only had Coreys prints on it. The police lied about the location they found the gun in and put another murder on Corey Gardner that he didn’t do. Yes corey should pay for what he did killing a man is just digusting, but Bruce Skalon should be put away also for the Ricco act the gun he threw as well as the murder of J Roc…. this is the truth folks don’t believe all you read in the paper. Corey Gardner turned himself in the next day because he was not in the durango that night. Let’s hope the Kankakee police department gives true justice and locks up Bruce Skalon as well. He is living in decator. His address is available to the public on the sex offenders web site. I would like to see true justice for twain sharps family. My he rest in peace.
Thanks for the info Cassandra. I found Bruce Skalon’s mugshot:
http://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Illinois/Kankakee-County-IL/Bruce-Allen-Skalon.8595205.html
Here is his criminal background for Kankakee county:
2009 TR 001696 TR – TRAFFIC 02/03/2009 DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE SKALON, BRUCE Closed
2011 CF 000519 CF – FELONY 09/28/2011 FAIL TO RPT CHNG ADDR/EMPL/2+ SKALON, BRUCE Open
2004 TR 012217 TR – TRAFFIC 06/07/2004 SEAT BELT REQUIRED/PASSENGER SKALON, BRUCE A Closed
2009 TR 007239 TR – TRAFFIC 05/04/2009 DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE SKALON, BRUCE A Closed
2009 TR 007240 TR – TRAFFIC 05/04/2009 OPERATE UNINSURED MTR VEHICLE SKALON, BRUCE A Closed
2009 TR 007241 TR – TRAFFIC 05/04/2009 DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD/1ST & 2ND SKALON, BRUCE A Open
2009 TR 014060 TR – TRAFFIC 08/14/2009 OP MTR VEH/REGIS/SUSPENDED SKALON, BRUCE A Closed
2009 TR 014061 TR – TRAFFIC 08/14/2009 DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE SKALON, BRUCE A Closed
2011 TR 015308 TR – TRAFFIC 11/28/2011 OPERATE UNINSURED MTR VEHICLE SKALON, BRUCE A Closed
2012 TR 004954 TR – TRAFFIC 05/02/2012 AGG FLEEING POLICE/21 MPH OVER SKALON, BRUCE A Open
2012 TR 004955 TR – TRAFFIC 05/02/2012 RECKLESS DRIVING SKALON, BRUCE A Open
2012 TR 004956 TR – TRAFFIC 05/02/2012 MUFFLERS/1ST,2ND SKALON, BRUCE A Open
2012 TR 006104 TR – TRAFFIC 05/24/2012 VIO LIC CLASS 1ST & 2ND DIV SKALON, BRUCE A Closed
2011 TR 007462 TR – TRAFFIC 06/14/2011 OPERATE UNINSURED MTR VEHICLE SKALON, JR , BRUCE A Closed