Close up, 225 South Wisconsin looks ready for the holidays. But a wider view reveals yellow police tape around the Addison home where police found a family of four dead inside from an apparent murder-suicide on the day before Thanksgiving.
The home remained an active crime scene Thursday.
"I'm just shocked. Just realizing what's happened has put a different mood on the holiday," said John Kruse, neighbor.
Addison Police say they were called to the home around six Wednesday morning. A woman inside the home called 911 with sounds of gunfire in the background.
"The caller made some sort of statement to the effect that she needed help," said Tim Hayden, Addison police chief.
Police arrived a few minutes later, only to find all the doors and windows locked. They had to break into the home, then making the grim discovery of the dead woman in a first floor hallway, her two sons in an upstairs hallway and their father also upstairs.
Though Police Chief Tim Hayden gave few details in his news conference, DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett says it appears the husband shot his wife and children before shooting himself.
Police have not found a note and have never been called to the house before, so the motive remains unclear.
Neighbor Jim Mack says he knew the family for 18 years.
"It's a shame, it's tragic any time something like this happens," said Mack.
Chief Hayden says the timing makes it especially difficult for his detectives.
"Some of the guys are having a tough time right now," said Hayden.
The names of the victims will not be released until after autopsies have been completed.
You can read more about this story in The Daily Herald.
