Two bodies found in Joliet auto body shop, victims ID'd

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- Two bodies were found in an auto body shop in southwest suburban Joliet shortly before noon Wednesday. Police say they are investigating the deaths as homicides.

Police identified the victims as 48-year-old Michael Oram and 43-year-old Jamie Wills. Matthew Wills, son of Jamie, says his mother helped out around the shop. He waited in agony to hear from police.

"No words can describe it," Wills said. "Ain't nothing gonna describe it."

Joliet Police Deputy Chief Al Roechner said police received a call from the owner of Fleet Specialty Painting in the 800-block of East Cass around 11:45 a.m. The owner arrived at the shop and could see the bodies through a window. Police say there is one male and one female victim, and that exact cause of death has not been determined. Police are unsure how long ago the two died and say there are signs of trauma on the bodies.

"There were injuries consistent with homicide and that is all we are going to say about it," Roechner said.

A customer said she brought her car to the shop Tuesday and didn't notice any unusual.

"We had a good conversation with the people two days in a row Monday and Tuesday," the customer, who did not want to be identified, said. "I was like 'Wow, are they OK?' Obviously not. I am sorry to hear that."

Neighbors say the business has been there for 50 years, passed down through the generations.

"The one thing my son said when I told him about it, he said dad it's getting bad. People don't have no respect for life," said John Casillas, who lives in the area."

Police are reviewing surveillance video from a nearby business, but have not said if it contains anything helpful to the investigation.