Four Dead In Elmhurst Murder-Suicide
(CBS) -- Four family members were killed in a murder-suicide Saturday evening inside a residence in west suburban Elmhurst.
Police identified the family members as 82-year-old Francis Stack, 82-year-old Joan Stack, 48-year-old Francis Stack Jr. and 57-year-old Mary Stack. All four had gunshot wounds to the head.
According to the DuPage County Coroner, Frank Stack Sr. committed suicide after killing his wife and two kids.
Elmhurst police responded to the request of a well-being check around 6:45 p.m. Saturday in the 600 block of Chatham. They entered a home and made the terrible discovery, finding four family members dead all with gunshot wounds.
"When the officers arrived at the scene they entered the home and found several family members deceased," said Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth. "There is no danger to the residents or the community at this time."
While investigators label what happened in the home as a crime scene, neighbors describe it very differently.
"He made a difficult decision that he felt was the right thing to do," said neighbor Pete Sterchele.
Sterchele has lived next to Francis Stack for more than a decade. He says Stack's wife, Joan, was unable to leave their home due to severe arthritis and terminal cancer.
They had a son, Francis Jr., and a daughter, Mary. Sterchele describes both as having autism and severe disabilities.
"He loved that family very much and I think the burden got too much for him," he said. "He did mentioned to someone else wouldn't it be nice if they could all go together.
While police continue to investigate, Sterchele believes Saturday night - Stack made that thought a reality.
"We have all come to the same conclusion that we all really admire him for what he did," said Sterchele.
