Illinois man killed wife, himself believing they both had COVID-19, authorities say

JOLIET, Ill. (WGN) -- The Will County Sheriff's Office said deputies were dispatched to a home in Lockport Township to conduct a welfare check and discovered the bodies of Patrick Jesernik, 54, and Cheryl Schriefer, 59. Their bodies were found in separate rooms in the residence. Each had been shot once, and a gun was found near Jesernik's body.

The investigation determined that Jesernik shot Schriefer in the back of the head before shooting himself.

Relatives told detectives that Jesernik had been scared he and Schriefer had contracted the COVID-19 virus, and that Schriefer was having difficulty breathing, according to police.

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Schriefer was tested earlier in the week, relatives told investigators, but they didn't she had received the results yet.

Police say Jesernik and Schriefer tested negative for the virus, according to autopsy results.