HIGHLAND PARK, IL – Investigators in Highland Park, Illinois, are looking into a disturbing double homicide case that has left two adult brothers dead. Given the complicated nature of the case, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has stated that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Authorities had been called to a burning home near Park Ave. West and Sunnyside. Upon reaching the site, they discovered two deceased men with suspicious injuries outside the house that was set on fire. The situation, initially perceived to be just a house fire, rapidly escalated into a double homicide investigation.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as 63-year-old Marc Austwick from Lake Forest and 60-year-old John Austwick from Mundelein. Both men had died from multiple gunshot wounds unrelated to the fire.
The home belonged to an elderly woman in her 80s who had passed away last week and was identified as the two men’s mother, Phyllis Austwick. She had died at Evanston Hospital on May 31 due to medical issues.
Lake County investigators have not yet located any weapon on the property and are yet to identify potential suspects. They maintain that the incident appears to be isolated, and they see no immediate threat to the community.