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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Polish princessa
It was not Matt’s ex wife. She had nothing to do with it. It was the Mother in law (Alfreda) and I’m sure she had everything to do with it because she told me personally she wanted to track Matt’s whereabouts and was getting a tracking device. Now we know why! She probably did the hit. Also, I know the ex and she was in complete shock when it happened. She did not know what her mother was planning it. She should go out there and clear her name, and stop protecting her mother!
MJ
Definitely ex-wife and/or her family involved at some level based on custody issues. The shooter/s are likely integrated with the community and dangerous, so no one wants any problems. If anyone speaks and arrest occurs, the shooter’s accomplice/family will likely take revenge.
Police will focus on arrest of local drug dealer/criminal type who may be able to provide a lead to cut a deal. It would be interesting to know if anyone from the ex-wife’s family traveled back to Poland or somewhere far after the murder distancing from the crime scene.
Steve
Sounds like he got whacked for sure . Sounds like the one in Florida where the florida state professor got whacked in his car because kids were involved and wanted them in a specific city or area too. That was multi parted complex for hire hit about 2013 too. Man are these college professors just real smart and hard to deal with or something ? Crazy . The kids lose in the end and then the kids get old enough and realizes what really happened one day anyway. Never makes much sense regardless who did it the actual shooting
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
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?
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!
Leonard Tran
I just finished listening to the podcast. I thought same thing. The podcast said everything was settled with the ex-wife but I know in divorces, there is always lingering resentment. I say turn up the heat on the ex-wife and her family.
Jasonfreitag1@gmail.com
100% agree
Jason Freitag
Seems like a murder for hire act?