Gregory M PIECHOCKI

27 APR 1973 - 14 SEP 2010

• BIRTH: 27 APR 1973, South Bend, IN
• BURIAL: Highland Cemetery, South Bend, IN
• DEATH: 14 SEP 2010, South Bend, IN

INDEX

[N2897] Gregory M. Piechocki
April 27, 1973 - Sept. 14, 2010
SOUTH BEND - Gregory M. Piechocki, 37, passed away on Tuesday, September 14, 2010, in his residence. Greg was born on April 27, 1973, in South Bend, to Gregory Piechocki and Jane Cavinder, who survive along with his two children, Nicholas Weiss of Rochester, IN, and Ellen Piechocki of Mishawaka; sister, Jill (Ben) Becker of South Bend; and by his brother, Jeffrey (Julie) Piechocki. Greg enjoyed playing pool, going to the beach, playing and watching sports, especially Notre Dame. A memorial service will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, in ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Road. Burial will take place at Highland Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made directly to the family. Condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net.
Published in South Bend Tribune on September 19, 2010

Cameras used at slaying site
Blunt force trauma killed Piechocki at Walnut St. home.

By DAVE STEPHENS and MARY KATE MALONE
Tribune Staff Writers

SOUTH BEND - If someone entered into the house where Gregory Piechocki died, neighbors said, it was likely caught on camera. But how useful those cameras might be in determining who killed the 37-year-old Piechocki at a home in the 1700 block of South Walnut Street, was not clear Wednesday, even as investigators from the Metro Homicide Unit searched the scene.

Piechocki was found slain in the home late Tuesday afternoon. An autopsy showed he died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Police and paramedics were called around 6 p.m. Tuesday after the home's owner, Kevin Rieder, returned to find Piechocki dead in a bedroom, according to police reports. Piechocki's father, also named Greg Piechocki, said his son and Rieder were best friends and that his son worked for Rieder's moving business, which was located at the Walnut Street home.

Piechocki had spent Monday night at Rieder's home but did not live there, according to police reports. Piechocki and Rieder were scheduled to play pool at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Piechocki had two children and was a graduate of Washington High School, his father said. "He was damn near genius," Piechocki's father said. "A beautiful son."

He said he last saw his son on Sept. 4, when the pair watched the first University of Notre Dame football game of the season on television. "I lost my son and I have no idea how it happened," the elder Piechocki said. "The tears are still dropping." Police have not listed Rieder or anyone else as a suspect in the case. Rieder's home was still roped off with crime scene tape Wednesday, but a video camera could be seen mounted above his front door.

In 2007, Rieder made headlines for stockpiling ammunition in preparation for the end of the world. Officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms found drums of gasoline and a stockpile of nearly 80,000 rounds of ammunition in his River Park home. Rieder was ultimately sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, but served only a fraction of the time, which included treatment in a mental health facility.

Article published Sep 15, 2010

Anyone with any information on what happened is asked to call St. Joseph County Metro Homicide at 574-235-5009 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 574-235-5009 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or CrimeStoppers at 574-288-STOP.

Walnut Street death in South Bend ruled a homicide
WSBT-TV Report
SOUTH BEND Metro Homicide detectives announced Wednesday that a man found dead in his home in the 1700 block of South Walnut Street Tuesday evening just after 6 has been ruled as a homicide.

His death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head.

Police were called to the home in response to a call of a "man down." Inside, authorities found Gregory M. Piechocki, 37, of South Bend, dead.

According to a statement from the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office, "because the circumstances indicated that the death was likely not due to natural causes, South Bend Police contacted the County Metro Homicide Unit, which assumed the investigation."

An autopsy was underway late Wednesday afternoon to determine the cause and manner of death.

The home where Piechocki's body was found was still being processed Wednesday afternoon as investigators worked to interview witnesses and follow up on leads.

For Ashley Fair, what happened hit close to home. She lives next door.

"It's just really heartbreaking," said Fair. "I feel for the families."

Fair said she didn't know if Piechocki lived at the home or was a frequent visitor, but said there were never any problems and the neighborhood isn't known for trouble, either.

"I've never seen the cops here, ever," she said.

"The neighborhood's always been quiet," said Cory Nicks, who lives across the street. "Nothing out of the ordinary -- other than just some regular commotion stuff, but nothing like that. So it was just something that was unusual and shocking to everybody."