George Chronis (Courtesy of Connie Chronis)

The Rains County Sheriff’s Office and a private investigator are still investigating the 2018 death of a Chicago medical doctor who was visiting his property in the Emory area.

Dr. George Chronis, 57, of Chicago flew into Dallas on May 4, 2018, rented a car and drove out to his property at 169 Rains County Road 2410 off of FM 779.

Hours later the barn apartment on the property caught on fire and Chronis’ body was found by the burning structure.  

Chronis’ widow Connie Chronis said its coming up on a year since her husband dies and she’s trying to get some answers about his death because the cause of George’s death was classified as occurring under undetermined circumstances. 

Connie said her and George bought the property eight years ago and hadn’t been to the barn apartment in Emory in about three years. 

She said they had a trusted neighbor looking after the property. That neighbor, Connie said, recommended the couple lease their pasture land to someone who would graze his cattle on the property.

Connie said the neighbor who recommended the cattle grazing realized the rancher wasn’t keeping the fences in tact and he recommended another person who was interested in keeping his cattle on the property.

She said that created a rift between the neighbor and the rancher, but that George agreed to let the rancher keep his cattle there until he found another place to put them. 

“In the mean time George was going to go boar hunting and see a lawyer to set up a proper contract with the new rancher,” Connie said. “He was supposed to meet new cattle guy and see a lawyer when he went to Emory in May.” 

Private investigator and former law enforcement officer Gil ___ said he got involved in the case after the Palace Park, Illinois Police Department called him about a family who lost a loved one in a Rains County and needed some help getting some information out about a reward for information about his death. 

“The family was looking for help setting up a tip or a reward hotline and the chief asked if I could help,” Gil said.

He said Crimestoppers picked up the story and posted it on their social media pages.

Gil said he spoke to the Rains County Sheriff’s Office to see what they would release to him, but said he understood the case was an open investigation and there were many details they wouldn’t be able to release.  

“They are looking at people,” Gil said. “We know the fire didn’t cause the death. The fire wasn’t the main cause of death outside of barn. The burns were on the back of body.  Was he already dead know the fire didn’t cause not inside the body.  

He said he has been working with the sheriff’s office as a conduit between Mrs. Chronis and law enforcement officials.  

Gil said the sheriff’s office is looking at people and that the investigation is ongoing.  

The autopsy is inconclusive. right now as cause of death. Whether he was dead already. We know the fire didn’t cause the death. The fire wasn’t the main cause of death  outside of barn, burns on back of body.  Was he already dead know the fire didn’t cause not inside the body. 

One of the neighbors was working on it making improvements and a family that was staying out there and helping the people make improvements, didn’t know and didnt’ authrize.  People were going on and off the property.  

Suspicious death there’s a lot of people around before the dr. came in.  Don’t believe it was accidental, probably caused by another person circumstances are saying yes.  The only way to prove it is through witness 

ME still conducting the investiation, THe reason I believe it was caused y somone else.  Furrough on the neck, caused by a ligature make, foreign objects in Dr’s stomache, plastic pellats, don’t know how they got there, not a food product. Those are 2 things looking at. cant tie it to anything yet,  

This hsppened second hand infi follow up on leads  got it to cro,rstopperd sheriff’s dept got something out to people came forward who 

They are speaking to people.  They are looking at people and have people of interest. 

Connie said nobody out there really knew him.  I figured people might have known him. There wee people working on it and living there.  

i

Had a neighbor trusted him to look after the property had a reccomendation of a person to raise cattle there and do little things to keep it fixed up.  cattle grazing.  in March the neighbor who recc him had been set up and hadn’t kep the fences in tact and change the cattle lease, kind of a fight between the two and given the first cattle guy 1 on the grounds and let him stay and in the mean time was going to go boar hunting and see a lawyre to set up a proper contract and was supposed to meet new guy cattle guy and see a lawayer 

An autopsy was performed and Chronis was listed as having died under undetermined circumstances, according to Lake Country Crime Stoppers. 

The Rains County Sheriff’s Office said they are following up on leads and the  case is still an open investigation. 

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information who may have heard something about this case, witnessed anything or who may have been in the area of FM 779 and Rains County Road 2410 on May 4, 2018 between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. to contact the Lake Country Crime Stoppers at 903-885-2020.

Lake Country Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads up to an arrest in the case.  

Private investigator

I was contacted by Chief Joe miller of Palace Park, ILL PD, the chief told me that we have a family who lost a in Reins Cty and looking for support and support a tip and reward hotline.  May 2018  asked me if I could help with it.  

I called the chief and we talked about it.  He said the He told me where Reins Cyty and when I told him was crimestoppers and have worked with them before.  

Had names and phone numbers and found the person she was the main person in Dallas Cty and crime stoppers and he contacted crime stoppers and outsid ethe Dallas area.. Have media contacts and alos told her that Conie and Reins County and to contact them.  Crimestoppers picked up the story.  

Speak to LE and see what they give you.  because of the nature of the case.  Met with Reins County authorities and gave me access to files and went to the crime scnee. Working with them as more of a conduit and 

They are looking at people.  It is an ongoing investigation. Have 

He flew into Dallas and drove rental car to reins county.  OUt there a matter of house.  

The autopsy is inconclusive. right now as cause of death. Whether he was dead already. We know the fire didn’t cause the death. The fire wasn’t the main cause of death  outside of barn, burns on back of body.  Was he already dead know the fire didn’t cause not inside the body. 

One of the neighbors was working on it making improvements and a family that was staying out there and helping the people make improvements, didn’t know and didnt’ authrize.  People were going on and off the property.  

Suspicious death there’s a lot of people around before the dr. came in.  Don’t believe it was accidental, probably caused by another person circumstances are saying yes.  The only way to prove it is through witness 

This hsppened second hand infi follow up on leads  got it to cro,rstopperd sheriff’s dept got something out to people came forward who 

They are speaking to people.  They are looking at people and have people of interest. 

Connie said nobody out there really knew him.  I figured people might have known him. There wee people working on it and living there.  

therer for the weekend recreational on his land for the weekend for recreational purposes. 

Family members used it.  barndominium type things Everything was destroyed. When I went out there. I only saw a couch and stuffing there was a water heater and all the oher stuff burnt up and a stove out there during and after the fire.  

THe fire marsh went out there and coulnd’t make a conclusion, and hired a fire investigator and he works for a company.  Couldn’t find anything.  

We looked at lightening strike or stove or accelatare.  

A neighbor was up and saw it brning and called it in.  

I don’t think so  It was Easter and we had Easter last weekend and we were just kind of wondering what 

Met with my husband’s sister and brother at the Sun times investigative reporter.  

Not a word.  We are working on the I do want to get an 

$8,000 reward through Crimestoppers.  They received some money my sister-in-law added to it and looking at doing a bigger reward.  Crimestoppers is for information leading to an arrest, 

Its in the autopsy report a furrough.  neck furrough.  I have a second opinion medical examiner.  

Sheriff’s office showing it around at stores to see if nayone knows what it is?

In Feb when i met with them he said he would share the first responder body cam with his 

What is the sheriff’s office doing to further investigate the death?

Are there any people of interest?

Can I get the body camera footage of the first responding officer to the scene?