Hinsdale man called 911 to report murdering his ex-wife before turning gun on self: Geneva police

Jessica D'Onofrio Image
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Man reported murdering ex-wife before turning gun on self: Geneva PD
Geneva police said Thursday they are investigating a murder-suicide on Pebble Beach Court. A Hinsdale man fatally shot his ex-wife, police said.

GENEVA, Ill. (WLS) -- A Hinsdale man called 911 to report he had murdered his former wife before turning the gun on himself in west suburban Geneva Wednesday night, Geneva police said Thursday morning.

Chad L. Dockery, 49, called 911 just after 5:20 p.m. to report the deadly shooting in the 1000-block of Pebble Beach Court, police said. He also said he was armed with a pistol, according to police.

When officers arrived, they found Dockery in a vehicle in the home's driveway.

As police approached the vehicle, Dockery shot himself, Geneva police said.

Amanda R. Dockery, 48, who lived in the Pebble Beach home, was found inside suffering from two gunshot wounds, police said.

Geneva and Batavia fire crews transported the two to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, where they died.

No one else was inside the home, and no one else was injured, police said.

A 9mm pistol was recovered from the scene.

"My neighbor came over, knocked on my door and said, 'Mike come outside, take a look,'" neighbor Mike Sloan said. "I come out and there's 25 to 30 police cars up and down the street, not a very big street. There's a cul-de-sac down at the end. Helicopters, they're running through the backyard."

Sloan said he'd just seen his female neighbor and her daughter Tuesday for the first time in months in the normally quiet neighborhood.

"I came back and was walking my dogs this morning, yesterday morning and I ran into her. I hope, I hope, hope it's not true," he said.

The couple was reportedly going through a divorce, but police said they had never been called to the Pebble Beach home in the past for any domestic disputes.

Neighbors are shaken, and said Amanda Dockery lived in the home with her two kids.

Geneva police, the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force and the Kane County Coroner's Office continue to investigate the incident.

Autopsies are pending.

Tri-Com Central Dispatch, Saint Charles police, Saint Charles fire, Batavia police, the Kane County Sheriff's Office, Geneva Emergency Management and Kane County Emergency Management all assisted during the incident.

If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].