A 57-year-old man admitted killing Judge Lefkow's husband and mother in a letter to a Chicago television station and in a suicide note in his van.  Bart A. Ross, who committed suicide on March 9 after he was stopped for a routine traffic violation in West Allis, Wisconsin, said that he killed Lefkow's relatives because of the judge's ruling against him.   Authorities said that the DNA found on a cigarette butt found at the scene of the murders matches that of Ross.  The .22-caliber shells investigators found in Ross' van also matched the casings found in Judge Lefkow's home.

The investigation into the murder of the husband and mother of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow continues in Chicago. Judge Lefkow presided over a trademark infringement lawsuit against a white supremacist group headed by Matt Hale. Hale was convicted in 2004 for soliciting her murder. 

The murders took place just five weeks before Hale is scheduled to be sentenced for his crimes.

A joint task force consisting of Chicago police, the FBI and U.S. marshals have yet to announce any suspects in the February 28, 2005, murders of Michael Lefkow, 64, and Donna Humphrey, 89, though they have released sketches of two "persons of interest."  A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the capture of the killers.

Investigators are looking at several possible theories behind the murders, including a linkage to members of hate groups. Law enforcement officials have interviewed numerous white supremacists in connection with the investigation, including followers of Matt Hale.

ADL has been in contact with investigators to share information that could be useful in the investigation.

Hale tried to have Lefkow killed because in 2002 she presided over a trademark lawsuit against Hale's racist and anti-Semitic group, the World Church of the Creator. Hale was convicted of soliciting Lefkow's murder in April 2004. His group, now known as the Creativity Movement, has been in disarray since Hale's arrest in January 2003.

Authorities have been aware for some time that Hale's group has had a reputation for retaliation. The most notorious such incident occurred in 1999, when Hale follower Benjamin Smith embarked upon a deadly two-state shooting spree, targeting minorities, after the Illinois State Bar denied Hale a law license.

Because of the concern that Hale would urge retaliation after his arrest, authorities placed him under tight security measures reserved for terrorist suspects that severely restrict his ability to communicate with the outside world.

Similarly, because of concerns over retaliation, authorities put significant security measures in place at the Lefkow home in 2003. However, neighbors said that such measures had lessened.

Hale's sentencing is scheduled for April 6, 2005.