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Burris witness’ death accidental - Family puzzled by his missing briefcase
Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Friday, July 17, 2009
Author: Matt Hanley, Beacon News; Sun-Times Media Group
A Kendall County coroner jury ruled Thursday that the death of a key figure in the perjury investigation of Sen. Roland Burris was an accident.

John Ruff , 42, of Lake Holiday, died June 8 when his BMW Z-3 ran off Rogers Road on the far western edge of Kendall County.

Police said the crash is a case of inattentive driving.

Ruff ‘s family, however, still has some questions about the crash. Ruff was a witness in a perjury case involving President Obama’s former Senate seat.

The family wants to know what happened to Ruff ‘s briefcase.

“Yes, it could have been a total accident, but if he was run off . . .” said Ruff ‘s sister, Kathy Boydstun. “There were some people very angry when he came forward.”

(snip)

But in March, Ruff raised the prospect of a possible trade-off between Blagojevich and Burris. Ruff recalled a conversation with Burris’ business partner, Fred Lebed, who allegedly said he had discussions about Burris’ interest in the Senate appointment with Blagojevich representatives as early as October.

That information contradicted Burris’ claim that neither Burris nor his representatives spoke with Blagojevich or his representatives before Dec. 26. Lebed accused Ruff at the time of being on a “witch-hunt” and fabricating that story.

“There is more to be discovered,” Ruff told the Chicago Sun-Times.

(snip)

The family believes the crash might have been an accident, but they’re puzzled by a work briefcase they say is missing. Boydstun said her brother took the briefcase everywhere and kept important documents in it. The briefcase was not recovered from the car and has not turned up in Ruff ‘s home or home office, Boydstun said.

WHOA!

Mayor: Kelly’s girlfriend is ‘lawyered up’, not talking

Country Club Hills mayor Dwight Welch said this morning that the girlfriend of Christopher Kelly has “lawyered up” and is no longer talking to police investigating the Saturday death of the former top Rod Blagojevich adviser.

He also said police are searching for a man who went to Oak Forest Hospital while Kelly was being treated in the emergency room and claimed to be Kelly’s friend. The man, described by the mayor as a white male with gray hair, sought the keys to Kelly’s Cadillac Escalade, which apparently was used to take Kelly to the hospital......

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/mayor-kellys-girlfriend-is-lawyered-up-not-talking.html