Wis. Newlyweds Found Dead in Car Were Shot in Head, as Police Probe Possible Murder-Suicide

A Wisconsin couple found dead in their car earlier this month both died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to preliminary findings from the McHenry County Coroner’s Office, Fox News Digital and the Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported.

McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein confirmed Wednesday, Oct. 15, that autopsies had been conducted on Rachel and Brandon Dumovich, per the Scanner.

The couple — both from Sharon, Wisconsin — were discovered in a vehicle parked on the side of a road in Illinois on Monday, Oct. 6. Authorities said the car’s hazard lights were flashing when officers arrived. The pair had been just days away from celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary.

The Harvard Police Department shared in an Oct. 14 Facebook post that it was working with the McHenry County Major Investigative Assistance Team and “continues to diligently investigate the tragic incident.”

Harvard Police Chief Tyson Bauman told Fox News Digital that “while a murder-suicide is a potential scenario, no final determination has been made.”

According to police, the investigation remains ongoing as officials await the coroner’s final report and the analysis of additional evidence.

Just before midnight on Oct. 6, an officer noticed the Dumoviches’ vehicle stopped on Route 14 northbound near Burbank Street. When the officer approached, a woman was found in the driver’s seat and a man in the passenger seat—both deceased.

Each had sustained a single gunshot wound, and a firearm was recovered inside the car, police said.

“At this time, this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no evidence to suggest that there is any danger or threat to the public,” the department stated. Authorities briefly issued, then lifted, a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.

According to an online obituary, Rachel, 29, was a two-sport varsity athlete in high school, competing in cheerleading and track, before earning her Bachelor of Business Administration, Cum Laude, from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 2018.

She was remembered “for her drive, ambition, and passion,” as well as her “empathy, compassion, and strong sense of social justice.” The tribute added, “Rachel loved her friends, family, traveling, fashion, decorating, cooking, and especially life at the lake.”

Brandon, 30, was a U.S. Navy Petty Officer, according to his obituary. It described him as deeply devoted to service and family, noting his “infectious smile and sharp sense of humor” and his “extraordinary ability to lift spirits and bring people together.”

“Family was always at the heart of everything he did; it was his anchor and greatest source of pride,” the obituary said.