2 Dead in Palos Park Murder-Suicide

Police said Walter Puk, 53, shot his wife, Larisa Markewych, 55, before turning the gun on himself. Puk was found with a gunshot wound to the head

Two people were found dead Tuesday in a suburban Palos Park home in what authorities say was a murder-suicide.

Police said Walter Puk, 53, shot his wife, Larisa Markewych, 55, before turning the gun on himself. Puk was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

"They were great people.. for this community. They seemed to uphold all of the things you would want in this community and, to me, they were strong workers and they gave their children good values and I'm just very shocked to hear it," said Bill Werschell, who lives next door to the couple on the 12300 block of Mohawk Road.

Family friends said the couple's high school-aged son found his parents in the home late Tuesday afternoon. Palos Park police transported the boy's sister, a student at the University of Wisconsin, later in the evening.

While the couple was separated, Markewych was still active at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church and never hinted at any problems at home, those who knew her said.

Nobody was at Markewych's dental office on Wednesday, but friends said she had been taking care of her ailing mother

"When people care for their parents you know they're good people. I don't know what could have happened," said Werschell.

Police said they are not looking for any suspects and say they do not believe the community is in any danger.

 
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