In a troubling development out of Highland Park, Illinois, authorities are currently investigating what appears to be a double-homicide after two brothers were found shot to death early Wednesday morning outside a burning home that belonged to their recently deceased mother. As reported by the WLS, the Lake County Coroner's office identified the victims as Marc Austwick, 63, and John Austwick, 60. Both men succumbed to numerous gunshot wounds, and investigators have yet to recover any weapon on the property.
Following a 3 a.m. call, fire crews arrived to find the house fiercely ablaze; the fire was described as "extending feet up in the sky," by Lisa Spathis, a nearby resident who was awakened to the scene by her dog. Attempts to quickly and effectively respond to the fire were complicated by what was soon understood to be a much darker scenario. Lt. Chris Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff's Office informed WLS that the injuries on the bodies found were "not consistent with fire related injuries."
The house, which sits on an acre of property and had been up for sale on and off over the years, was the residence of the elder Austwick, who had passed away five days prior at Evanston Hospital due to a medical issue. Local residents noted a sense of disbelief at the unfolding scenario. "You don’t think that happens here. It’s insane," commented Lisa Spathis in an interview obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Amid the ongoing investigations, both the Highland Park Fire Department and the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force are working diligently to ascertain the cause of the fire, while Lake County authorities are piecing together the events that led up to the deaths of the Austwick brothers. Further complicating the neighborhood's efforts to grapple with the tragedy was the activity of state and federal authorities, who swarmed the community and, according to neighbor Julie Smith, went door to door seeking information about a young male. This was reported by WLS, which also highlighted the deepened unease within the normally quiet community.
As of now, what led to the fire and the killing of the Austwick brothers remains murky, with no known threat to the community. Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli issued a reassuring email statement referenced by the Chicago Sun-Times, emphasizing that based on information gathered thus far, the incident "appears to be isolated." The investigation endures, as the Highland Park community seeks answers to the violent disruption of their peace.
