Employee Charged with Murder of Trucking CEO

Last week, it was reported that the CEO and president of a trucking company was murdered. Dane Koteski, CEO and president of ATG Truckload, was found dead inside the company’s burning building in Crestwood, Illinois.

On March 5, around 4 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke at ATG Truckload. Upon extinguishing the flames, they discovered Koteski’s body on the second floor. An autopsy revealed that the 46-year-old CEO had died from neck injuries inflicted by a sharp object, leading authorities to rule the death a homicide.

According to the Crestwood Police Department, Josif Suclea, a 52-year-old employee of ATG Truckload, has been charged with the first-degree murder of the company’s CEO. Investigators quickly identified Suclea, a longtime employee of ATG Truckload, as a suspect. He was apprehended without incident at a truck stop in Holland, Michigan, on March 6. Authorities believe the attack was targeted, though specific motives have not been publicly disclosed.

Crestwood Police Department released a statement on Facebook. Read the post below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE: SUSPECT CHARGED WITH 1ST DEGREE MURDER

On Wednesday, March 5th at approximately 4:05pm, the Crestwood Police and Fire Departments responded to a call of heavy smoke in the building located at 13835 S. Kostner, which is home to a company known as ATG Truckload.

While the small fire was quickly extinguished by fire personnel, the body of the victim identified as Dane Koletski, was located on the second floor amidst heavy smoke. A death investigation was initiated by the Crestwood Police Department, and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force was activated to spearhead the investigation. An arson investigation was also initiated, assisted by the State Fire Marshalls who responded to the scene.

Over the course of the next several hours, task force investigators developed and followed up on numerous leads pointing to a suspect, later identified as Josif Suclea. The suspect was learned to be an employee of the victim and the crime was quickly deemed to be an isolated event, specifically targeting the victim.

The investigation continued throughout the night leading to the location of the suspect at a truck stop in Holland, Michigan. Task force officers responded to Holland Michigan, where the Holland Police Department conducted an operation resulting in the arrest of the suspect around 5:15am central time.

The Village of Crestwood would like to thank members of the Holland Police Department for their assistance in executing the arrest of the suspect, and to the highly skilled members of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force whose efforts lead to the swift capture of Josif Suclia before further flight could occur.

An autopsy conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the death to be a homicide resulting from injuries to the victim’s neck caused by a sharp or pointed object. The Crestwood Police Department, in cooperation with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, continued the investigation leading to the extradition of suspect, Josif Suclea, from Ottawa County Michigan back to Crestwood, Illinois, on Friday March 15, 2025.

On Saturday, March 15th, Josif Suclea 52, from Scottsdale, Arizona was charged with 1st Degree Murder. Suclea has a bond hearing scheduled for noon on Sunday, March 16th at the Cook County Courthouse, located at 2600 S. California Avenue, Chicago, IL.