Michael Bethke
Encyclopedia
Michael Bethke is an American murder
er from Calumet City, Illinois
who killed and decapitated
Joseph Lesinski, his 49-year old co-worker at the Burnham, Illinois
White Hen Pantry grocery store
, on June 6, 1991.
Described as suffering from "chronic paranoid schizophrenia", Bethke was found not guilty by reason of insanity
and sentenced to up to 49 years in a state mental institution.
His story was described in the song "White Hen Decapitator" on the Macabre
album Sinister Slaughter
in 1993.
A story regarding Bethke can be found in the May 21, 1993 issue of the Chicago Tribune at page 3. The story states that Michael Bethke of Calumet City, Illinois was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the slaying of 49 year-old Joseph Lesinski and that a hearing regarding his mental condition and future prognosis would be held on June 3, 1993. The story also states that the slaying occurred on June 6, 1991, while both Bethke and his victim Lesinki were working at the Burnham White Hen Pantry. According to the story, "Bethke admitted to decapitating Lesinski with a knife when the victim bent over to get a pack of cigarettes." The July 9, 1993 issue of the Tribune reports that Bethke was ordered to spend up to 49 years in a state mental institution. The June 7, 1991 issue of the Chicago Tribune also has a detailed article on page 1.
There are several other stories to be found in the Chicago Tribune
and Sun-Times. Bethke was described by Assistant Public Defender Paul Brownlee as suffering from "chronic paranoid schizophrenia." He used a 14 inch kitchen knife to behead Lesinski. A detailed report of the crime scene can be found in the June 8, 1991 issue of the Sun-Times, at page 12, which noted that the victim apparently had the word "repent" scrawled on his forehead.
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
er from Calumet City, Illinois
Calumet City, Illinois
Calumet City is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 39,072 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 60409.Calumet City was founded in 1892 when the villages of Schrumville and Sobieski Park merged under the name of West Hammond, since it lies on the west side of the...
who killed and decapitated
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
Joseph Lesinski, his 49-year old co-worker at the Burnham, Illinois
Burnham, Illinois
Burnham is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,170 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 60633.Burnham has a Chicago ZIP code, and is often mistakenly considered part of Chicago...
White Hen Pantry grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
, on June 6, 1991.
Described as suffering from "chronic paranoid schizophrenia", Bethke was found not guilty by reason of insanity
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
and sentenced to up to 49 years in a state mental institution.
His story was described in the song "White Hen Decapitator" on the Macabre
Macabre (band)
Macabre is an extreme metal band from Illinois. They were formed in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, and have never had a line-up change. They blend thrash metal, death metal, and grindcore to form their own unique style dubbed murder metal...
album Sinister Slaughter
Sinister Slaughter
Sinister Slaughter is the second full-length album by American Death Metal band Macabre and was released in 1993 by Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork is a parody on the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band featuring serial killers and mass murderers instead of famous people...
in 1993.
A story regarding Bethke can be found in the May 21, 1993 issue of the Chicago Tribune at page 3. The story states that Michael Bethke of Calumet City, Illinois was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the slaying of 49 year-old Joseph Lesinski and that a hearing regarding his mental condition and future prognosis would be held on June 3, 1993. The story also states that the slaying occurred on June 6, 1991, while both Bethke and his victim Lesinki were working at the Burnham White Hen Pantry. According to the story, "Bethke admitted to decapitating Lesinski with a knife when the victim bent over to get a pack of cigarettes." The July 9, 1993 issue of the Tribune reports that Bethke was ordered to spend up to 49 years in a state mental institution. The June 7, 1991 issue of the Chicago Tribune also has a detailed article on page 1.
There are several other stories to be found in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
and Sun-Times. Bethke was described by Assistant Public Defender Paul Brownlee as suffering from "chronic paranoid schizophrenia." He used a 14 inch kitchen knife to behead Lesinski. A detailed report of the crime scene can be found in the June 8, 1991 issue of the Sun-Times, at page 12, which noted that the victim apparently had the word "repent" scrawled on his forehead.