Autopsy for Alleged Beating Victim Set for Tuesday

An autopsy has been scheduled for an Oak Lawn man who died under mysterious circumstances at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office on Tuesday morning.

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Terry Reichert, 51, five days after he was found severly injured on his front door step.

His family believe that he may have been beaten after being dropped off at home sometime after 1 a.m. Jan. 30.

Family members said that Reichert had gone to watch his brother compete in a pool league at Town Lounge in Hometown last Tuesday evening. The brothers left the bar around 1:10 a.m. when Reichert’s brother dropped him at his home near 109th Street and Komensky Avenue.

Oak Lawn Police said his brother drove off without seeing if Reichert got into the house.

Reichert’s fiancé found him lying unconscious on his front door step several hours later around 6:15 a.m. A police news release said he sustained facial injuries. His family described his injuries as being substantial, including bruising on his front and back.

Family members say that his wallet and house keys were still in his pockets when he was found unconscious. Police confirmed that Reichert's wallet, keys and clothes were disposed of by Christ Hospital emergency room staff because they had blood on them and were considered "bio-hazardous."

Police want to know what happened between the time Reichert was dropped off at home and the time he was found several hours later, presumably after laying out in the rain all night.

Asked if their investigation would now be upgraded to a possible homicide investigation, Division Chief Michael Kaufmann said via email that police are waiting for the medical examiner’s report.

Reichert was a graduate of Oak Lawn Community High School and was a carpenter. He had spent much of the past several months building an addition to his home so that his fiancé and her children could move in.

A family member said Reichert was unemployed due to carpentry work being slow in the winter.

A Facebook page has been set up in Reichert's memory, where he was remembered as a fun-loving, funny, loyal brother and friend who came from a strong family.

Read more coverage:

• Family Thinks Brother Found Unconscious Was Beaten

• Oak Lawn Man Found Unconscious Dies of Injuries

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