Lake County Gazette

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of two parents following an investigation that uncovered their children living in unsanitary conditions and child pornography in the father's possession.

According to a press release by Lake County, detectives initiated the investigation after receiving a tip from a cloud storage provider about child pornography uploaded from a device within the county. This led authorities to a residence in Fox Lake, where on August 14, 2025, cybercrime detectives, the state’s attorney’s cybercrime unit, and the tactical response team executed a search warrant. Inside, they found a family residing in the basement, including three children under age three. Investigators determined that Logan J. Jentink, aged 29, was responsible for downloading and possessing child pornography.

Authorities reported that the children were living in unsafe conditions, forced to sleep on a concrete basement floor contaminated with urine and animal feces. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) took custody of the children while Lake County Animal Control removed several neglected animals, including reptiles and dogs. Jentink faces multiple charges including child endangerment, animal cruelty, and possession of child pornography. Sandra J. Zaluski, aged 23 and identified as the children's mother, was also charged with child endangerment and animal cruelty. She was released with conditions after a court hearing; however, Jentink remains in custody.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg expressed gratitude for his team's swift action: "I am very thankful our detectives acted quickly on this tip and ultimately were able to remove these children from horrid conditions. This is another example of our team working tirelessly to keep our most vulnerable safe and out of harm’s way or to remove them from unsafe conditions."

The Lake County Sheriff's Office plays a crucial role in maintaining order and upholding laws within the community. It emphasizes service through education, communication, partnerships, and enforcement to build public trust. The office's core values include integrity, respect, and professionalism. Established in 1839 alongside the county's founding, it has expanded over time with additions such as the 1895 jail and courthouse.