The Professor’s Execution



When Matthew Lange is shot to death execution style while picking up his young son from school on January 27, 2017, the entire community of Naperville, IL is rocked by his murder. Violent crime almost unheard of in the quiet, upper-middle-class Chicago suburb consistently rated one of the safest neighborhoods in the Midwest. And Matthew Lange is a most unlikely victim. The popular 37-year-old college professor and single father is well regarded in his professional life and surrounded by a close circle of family and friends who say he has no enemies. Fresh out of a contentious divorce and custody battle, he is busy rebuilding his life and has just closed on a home for himself and his little boy. Is Matthew the victim of a random act of violence? Does he have a secret life that put him at risk? And who has a reason to want Matthew Lange dead? Five years later, Naperville police are still trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and say they need the public’s help.

Matthew Lange was shot and killed on January 27th, 2017 in the parking lot near the Scullen middle school in Naperville, Illinois around 7pm. He was sitting in his silver 2013 Hyundai Elantra at the time of the shooting. There is currently a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Matthew Lange’s death. If you have any information about the murder of Matthew Lange, please call the Naperville Crime Stoppers tip line at (630)-420-6006 or send us a tip.

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11 Comments

  1. Britt

    I believe it was the father in law. I also believe people are afraid to say anything as maybe they feel they are protecting the child. Clearly was the mother who was not happy. But what got me was the ex wife who would lie to get abuse allegations so she could stay in here. So she apparently has no issues lying.
    The police should be putting more pressure on them.

    Reply

  2. Bobby

    This was a contract hit from the start. They knew his moves and where he would be. The ex wife has knowledge of who did the hit. Polish community may be close knit but some one knows. Up the rewards and someone will talk.

    Reply

  3. Lizzie

    I think the podcast implied pretty heavily that it was the ex or someone she hired. Depending on how the grandparents arranged their custody with the ex-wife, they may be avoiding saying anything too directly to keep contact with their grandson, kind of like the situation in “Dear Zachary.” I think probably everyone, including the police, probably assume that the ex was involved, but unless someone gives some info, theres not much they can do since the ex and family are not willing to talk to the police. His poor parents. I do hope the visibility from the podcast helps stir something up.

    Reply

  4. V House

    It’s definitely the ex-wife or her family or connections in her “community”. I’m sure years from now this will be solved. Sad.

    Reply

  5. GS

    He was my favorite professor. He genuinely loved what he did and you could tell! I was so shocked when our school told us what happened. I hope this is solved someday soon. His parents and family deserve it!!!

    Reply

  6. Chris

    Isn’t it obvious it was the ex-wife? Her motive is obvious. A hired hit to get her kid back. I’m surprised they haven’t gone in that direction.

    Reply

    • Jeanne Hendrix

      Maybe they did talk to the wife and you didn’t know. I’m sure they thought of that. Maybe her alibi checked out. It doesn’t always have to be the ex but who knows?

      Reply

  7. Bill Blaski

    I couldn’t tell If they were implicating the polish community during the podcast. This seemed to have been an average Joe who loved his family and friends. The only person to have done him dirty is the ex wife. Who drums up a domestic violence charge just to stay in the country. I say turn up the heat on her!

    Reply

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