Murder-Suicide: Man Feared Coronavirus, Family Says

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, IL — A man and woman in their 50s were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Lockport Township, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office. Police said Patrick Jesernik, 54, and Cheryl Schriefer, 59, were found dead in separate rooms of their Bruce Road home around 8 p.m. Thursday when deputies were conducting a welfare check.

The welfare check came at the request of a person who said he was contacted by the parents of Jesernik. The parents asked him to check on their son because they had not heard from him, police said.

Family members of Jesernik told investigators that he had been scared that he and Schriefer had contracted coronavirus, and that Schriefer had been having trouble breathing.

Family told police Schriefer had been tested for coronavirus two days earlier but had not received results yet. After autopsies were conducted, police said both Schriefer and Jesernik tested negative for the virus.

When investigators arrived at the Bruce Road home, all doors and windows were locked from the inside. Deputies forced entry and found the man and woman both dead, and a loaded revolver containing two spent shell casings and three live rounds near Jesernik's body.

Police said there were no signs of a struggle, and the home was neat and orderly. A check of the address showed no previous calls for domestic disputes and both had "very limited police contact," the sheriff's office said.

An autopsy conducted Friday showed both died of gunshot wounds to the head. Jesernik's death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police, who said Schriefer's death has been ruled a homicide.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the vast majority of service calls that deputies have been responding to involve domestic disputes and crisis intervention calls, the sheriff's office said. Anyone who is a victim of a domestic violence situation should know the Will County Courthouse remains open for individuals in need of obtaining an order of protection, police said. The Will County Courthouse is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon for the issuance of orders of protection.

Anyone who needs assistance in obtaining an order of protection or seeks additional resources or information in regard to domestic violence can contact Will County Sheriff’s Office Police social worker, Bonnie McPhillips at 815-724-1878.

Residents can also reach out to Guardian Angel Community Service Groundwork 24 hour domestic violence hotline at 815-729-1228 or reach out to the Will County Crisis Hotline online at 815-722-3344 or online at http://www.willfinduhelp.org/.

Anyone who is struggling can get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting HOME to 741741.