Joliet Man Dies in Crash One Day After 4-Year-Old Boy Dies in His Pool
Robert Miletta had been stressed by the accidental drowning of Justin Gore in his family's pool, and had been planning to take it down before he died, police said.
When his parents last saw him, Justin Gore was sound asleep on a couch in his grandparents' Joliet home. It was 5 a.m. Sunday, and they were en route to the airport to catch a flight to the Caribbean.
No one expected the 4-year-old boy would somehow let himself out of the house and make his way to a neighboring family's above-ground swimming pool, where he would drown, Joliet Police Cmdr. Al Roechner said.
But he did, and by the time the police discovered his body in the water and did CPR in an effort to revive him, it was too late, Roechner said. He was declared dead at 11:15 a.m. Sunday at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.
That tragedy was compounded by another on Monday morning, when the 47-year-old man who owned the pool in the 1500 block of Green Trails Drive died himself, the police commander said. Robert Miletta, 47, crashed his SUV into a house near his home after experiencing "multiple cardiac conditions" while driving, according to the Will County coroner's office.
Miletta had been out getting the equipment he needed to let the water out of his pool so that it could be dismantled, he said.
"It's all kind of unbelievable," Roechner said.
An autopsy was done on Justin Gore Monday, and while the results have not yet been released, the cause of death is expected to be drowning, Roechner said.
No one knows how Gore, who was autistic, was able to get out of the house, he said. The child's absence wasn't noted until his grandfather returned from the airport sometime after 10 a.m. and called police when the child couldn't be found.
While police were canvassing the neighborhood, Gore's body was discovered in the pool by the Miletta family, Roechner said.
The 4-year-old would have had to climb up stairs to the pool, which did not have a gate, he said.
Gore's family did not know the Milettas, who were so distraught by the accident that Robert Miletta's wife and daughter chose to stay overnight in a hotel rather than be in their house, Roechner said. Robert Miletta had wanted to take down the pool before they returned, he said.
Robert Miletta had been experiencing chest pain Sunday night, but he and family members thought they were tied to stress from the incident, he said.
In This article
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City of Joliet
150 W Jefferson St, Joliet, IL -
Presence St. Joseph Medical Center
333 Madison St, Joliet, IL -
Joliet Police Department
150 W Washington St, Joliet, IL
Divette
12:43 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
OMG... TRULY SAD :( KAREN, PLEASE KEEP US POSTED. THANK YOU!
Dawn Kaluzny
5:02 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
God bless these poor families.
Delphine Freeman
9:08 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
THIS POST IS ABOUT COMPASSION FOR THE BEREAVED FAMILIES.....NOT ABOUT DIVETTE AND HER CAPS LOCK. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
Maggie
9:58 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
What a tragedy on both counts. Our prayers are with both families as they grieve their tremendous losses.
Divette
12:35 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
THANK YOU DELPHINE FREEMAN. WHAT CAN I SAY BESIDE AGREEING WITH YOU 200% THIS IS SUCH A TRAGIC STORY & OUT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN BE SAID HERE... THERE'S ALWAYS AN IGNORANT INSIGNIFICANT BRAINLESS ANIMAL LIKE "PIZZA GLEN" ... NOW, BACK TO HUMANITY... THIS IS ALL VERY SAD. MY CONDOLENCES GOES TO BOTH FAMILIES. MAY GOD BLESS THEM ALL & GIVE THEM ALL THE STRENGTH THEY NEED.
Mayhem
7:32 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Prayers for all of the families involved.
Christy Starks
8:35 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
This is so very sad. May both families find peace and comfort in the days to come. God keep them both!
Dawn T
10:00 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
So the parents and grandparents last saw the boy at 5 a.m. when they left for the airport, then the grandfather didn't return from the airport and noticed the boy was missing until 10 a.m.??? Who was supposed to be watching the child for the 5 hours in between? AND he was autistic??? Sounds like negligence on the family's part here....
Amazedbyidiots
12:17 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Thank you investigator, judge, and jury Dawn, like they don't have enough going on and you have to throw in your heartless allegations.
Concerned (NL)
12:46 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Dawn - please reread the article. The parents went to the airport - the grandparents were babysitting.
Cathy W
12:53 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
It sounds like Grandpa left Grandma home with the Grandson while he alone took the parents to the airport. For some reason, Grandma did not check on the four-year-old on the couch the whole morning until grandpa returned from the airport. If I had a 4-yr.-old innmy care, I couldn't help but look in on him sleeping every 15 mins. or so just because they're so cute at that age when they're asleep!! Maybe Grandma slept in, herself....
Maureen Gore
11:00 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
The boy was reported missing earlier than 10 a.m. The police were called and at the grandparent's house earlier than 10 a.m. The police had been looking for the boy for awhile before the boy was found in the pool.
The pool did not have any gate around it to keep any children out of it, so it's also negligence on the pool owner.
Burtin
9:10 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
This is my family that this happened to( the 4 yr old). Thank you all for your prayers but for those that have their opinions please keep to yourself at this time. Thank you
Infamous Steve
10:21 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Damn even I think this sucks for all involved...and I am a real cold hearted s.o.b.
Olddeegee
11:38 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The randomness that we live in is mind boggling sometimes. My heart goes out to all of those affected by this. Be safe people, everybody.
Carrie Frillman
11:57 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
This is incredibly tragic. My heart goes out to both families. Not trying to place any blame, whatsoever, as it seems there were multiple factors at play here. But I do wonder what the local regulations are for above-ground pools. My parents have one and even though they live in a relatively remote area of a suburb, they have stairs that fold up and a gate most of the way around the top.
Marianne Kerstein
3:00 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
The regulations in Joliet for above ground pools state that you either must have a fenced yard OR there must be a fence around the upper part of the pool that has a locking gate. From what I understand, this man's yard was fenced, but little boy got the gate open.
MidwestGal
6:59 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Blessing to all involved. God has a special spot in heaven for this man and little boy, they will be missed on earth, but embraced in heaven.
Agree with with the pools...so many are illegal - I called Village of Plfd a few years ago about illegal ones by me, they did nothing, they are still dangerous and illegal to this day. They are special needs kids around too!
Karen Goff
1:53 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
That is one of the saddest stories I have ever read. Feel terrible for all of them.
Kimberly DeLude Quigley
5:32 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
My thoughts and prayers to everyone involved. This story is truly sad and heartbreaking. I am so sorry.
Veronica Franklin
2:39 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I know the Gore family personally. The little boy that died is my niece's nephew. They are great people. At Cathy and Dawn T Unfortunately, this incident happen but who are we to judge to what happen. We are only reading what the media wrote. Instead of putting more salt on their wound pray for them.
Ann Walsh
6:25 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Veronica, Was this 4 year old child left alone in the house? Or did he wake up early and wonder what happened to his parents? Was his grandmother sound asleep while he wandered around looking for his mommy and daddy? If I was babysitting my 4 year old grandson, you would bet I would not be asleep ! If there was no fence with locked gate around the yard with the pool, that is negligence, however, who would think a 4 year old would let wander into your yard? Someone should be watching over a small child. So sad.
Denise
2:39 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
This is truly a tragedy, no blaming needed, just prayers.
Norma
9:10 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
life is such a gift and so fragile...it's a tragedy of the worst sort and rather than try and blame anyone, let's pray for both families. So very sad. I am heartbroken for both families. :(
Phyllis Gossett
9:10 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
I don't blame anybody mistake happen all the time it could have been any one of us GOD wanted that baby and that man the family didn't know one day a kid would die n our pool so don't place blame when non of us know all the facts thanks
Timothy & Melinda
7:36 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
Our family is praying for God to heal your Broken hearts! We couldnt imagine the pain of loseing our child. You are in our thoughts & prayers always.
vean thompson
6:59 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
it's amazing what an autistic child can accomplish, as a mother of an autistic child i used to have the same problem with my child getting out of the house and walking 2 blocks up the street when he was 2 year old. he got kicked out of 2 day cares because he was getting in and out of places that he should not have been. it's a very tragic situation and i feel for both families. AUTISTIC CHILDREN NEED 2 BE PAID CLOSE ATTENTION 2. they are just children but they have such amazing minds.
vean thompson
6:59 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I AM TRULY SRRY BOTH FAMILIES LOST THEIR GIFTS FROM GOD.
ROBERT MILLETTA PROBABLY DIED FROM A BROKEN HEART.
MidwestGal
6:59 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
The Milettas sound like good people, may they find comfort and happiness someday. I can not imagine what everyone is going through.
Gail lyvers
6:59 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I feel so sad for these families, losing a child or spouse has to be anyone's worst fear come true... my prayer for everyone involved, "that the Lord above will comfort you, mend your broken hearts and give you strength and purpose to finish the race".
symn
9:58 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Very sad and unfortunate - nothing more, nothing less. Its NOT neighbour's fault for keeping the pool uncovered (cant blame him for choosing not to - it's his pool on his property) - also can't blame grandma. Its just an unfortunate accident and there's nothing that can be done at this point. My thoughts are with both families.
kimberly walus
10:48 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I live in the same neighborhood and I feel for both families. My sympathies go out to all of them. This is truly a tragedy!
edub
9:53 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
May the Lord hold them until the families can meet them again.... Sorry to hear. So so sorry
Melissa Troutman
10:18 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Bless these families..... They certainly need many many prayers
Ms. Twenty
7:46 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
http://www.facebook.com/InMemoryOfJustinGoreJr
John Roberts
11:22 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
A very tragic loss....I have a nephew who is a lock magician he is only 3 he has been caught sliding chairs to the door to unlock the door..my friend and I have to put 2 chain locks on the doors and a deadbolt...kids are very smart weather autistic or not..autistic yeah some might have learning disabilities but some are just smarter in other ways not thought to be...look,at the Autistic man that just survived 3 weeks in the desert the authorities said basically he should be dead...survival instincts and escaping are in all of us...