Police reported that an elderly couple was found dead from gunshot wounds in a residence in Vernon Hills on Wednesday morning. The incident is believed to be a case of murder-suicide. The Vernon Hills Police Department and Countryside Fire Protection District promptly arrived at the 400 block of Cherry Valley Road in Vernon Hills at approximately 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to Vernon Hills Deputy Police Chief Shannon Holubetz, officers were alerted to a report of two individuals who may have died inside a house.
The officers found two victims inside the house. According to Holubetz, both individuals had obvious gunshot wounds. Both individuals, a 67-year-old woman and a 77-year-old male, were declared deceased at the location.
Holubetz stated that both individuals were married and lived at the same residence. An armament was retrieved at the location, and a preliminary inspection of the residence revealed no indications of unauthorized access.
“Based on these and other initial indications, it appears that this is a tragic incident involving both murder and suicide,” stated Holubetz. There is no perceived danger to the general public. According to residents who spoke to the Lake and McHenry County Scanner, investigators have cordoned off the house with crime scene tape and closed the road.
The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force dispatched forensic experts to aid the Vernon Hills Police Department in their investigation. The Lake County Coroner’s Office is now withholding the identity of the individuals, as they are in the process of informing the respective family members. The autopsies for the pair are planned for Thursday morning.
