December 05, 2021
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Fire ravages slain attorney's Hammond law office - Chicago Tribune

Firefighters arrived about 3:15 a.m. Sunday to the law office of Enslen, Enslen and Matthews, 142 Rimbach St., Hammond. Firefighters were still watching smoldering building in the afternoon.
Firefighters arrived about 3:15 a.m. Sunday to the law office of Enslen, Enslen and Matthews, 142 Rimbach St., Hammond. Firefighters were still watching smoldering building in the afternoon.

“When we arrived, there was quite a bit of smoke and flames. We set up a couple trucks and made entry but had to bail out because flames came through the roof,” Smith said.

The brick building’s roof collapsed, Smith said. There were no injuries. A demolition company knocked down a wall so firefighters could douse water on the blaze.

The Hammond Academy of Science and Technology (HAST), 33 Muenich Court, canceled in-person classes Monday because of its proximity to the destroyed law office. Classes will continue virtually, the school announced on its website.

In June, investigators said William Enslen, 75, was killed when he suffered four gunshot wounds in the head, torso and left hand in his Hobart home. Police said his longtime girlfriend found him face down and covered with blood on a rear porch.

The home had been ransacked, furniture was flipped over, a cabinet was broken and a large white area rug was missing, police said. Casings from a 9 mm gun were found near Enslen’s body.

Jason M. Vazquez, 38, of Hammond, was charged with Enslen’s murder Oct. 29 after police linked blood found at the scene and cellphone records to Vazquez who also faces three other felonies in connection with the case.

Enslen was a former Lake Superior Court pro tem judge and Dyer town attorney. Friends described the Vietnam veteran as a fitness buff who was well liked in the legal community.

According to court records, Vazquez is represented by public defenders Kurt Earnst and David Payne. His next court appearance is slated for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 28 before Lake Superior Court Judge Natalie Bokota.



source: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-hammond-enslen-fire-st-1207-20211206-qq2h3wqwovcwhbdwcv73tesdqe-story.html

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