Police say Sadie L. Tull was found dead during a welfare check in Carlyle.
CARLYLE, Ill. — Investigators in southern Illinois are asking the public for help after a pet salon owner was found shot to death inside her home, where neighbors said her two dogs were also killed. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is leading the homicide investigation into the death of 41-year-old Sadie L. Tull.
Authorities have released only limited details about what happened inside the residence on Fairfax Street, but they have described the case as an active homicide investigation and urged anyone who saw or spoke with Tull in the days before her death to come forward. The killing has rattled Carlyle, a small Clinton County community east of St. Louis, as detectives work to confirm a timeline, identify possible suspects, and determine a motive.
Tull was found Tuesday morning after Carlyle police officers went to the 2100 block of Fairfax Street for a welfare check, authorities said. Investigators later said she suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. The Major Case Squad was activated to assist local police, and detectives spent much of the day processing the home and surrounding property as neighbors watched from across the street and from nearby intersections.
By Wednesday, investigators said they had already followed up on more than 60 leads, a sign of both the intensity of the response and the number of people trying to help. The Major Case Squad said 26 law enforcement members were assigned to the activation, and detectives asked anyone who had contact with Tull in the days leading up to her death to share even small details that might help narrow down a timeline. Tips can be directed to the Major Case Squad command post at 618-594-2451 or to Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-8477, officials said, adding that tips to Crime Stoppers can be made anonymously.
Investigators have not announced an arrest, a suspect description, or a weapon recovered, and they have not said whether the shooter was known to the victim. They also have not publicly said whether there were signs of forced entry or whether anything was taken from the home. Neighbors said Tull’s two dogs were also shot, and investigators removed the animals from the residence as part of the crime scene work, but authorities have not released details about the dogs or whether their deaths are being examined as part of the same timeline.
The home where Tull was found is also where her grooming business operated, neighbors said. A neighbor, Dale Nordike, who lives across the street, said the violence was unusual for the area. “Don’t get me wrong, we have things happen out here, but nothing like this,” Nordike said. He described Tull as quiet but friendly and said he sometimes helped her with chores around her house. “Well, a lot of people were stunned by this,” he said. “It’s just a sad situation here.”
Investigators have emphasized that the most helpful information may come from the days before the welfare check, as detectives try to establish when Tull was last seen and who may have visited or contacted her. The Major Case Squad said detectives were continuing to pursue all avenues and were asking anyone with knowledge of her recent movements to speak with investigators. Authorities have not said whether surveillance video from the neighborhood has been located or reviewed, though detectives typically work to collect footage from nearby homes, businesses, and traffic corridors when it exists.
For Carlyle police, the case quickly became a regional investigation. Spectrum of the Major Case Squad structure was reflected in the command staff announced for the activation, with a deputy commander assigned and investigators pulled from multiple departments. Officials said Carlyle Police Chief Herzing requested assistance from the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, which is often called in for major incidents in the region when local agencies need additional resources for canvassing, interviews, evidence processing, and case coordination.
Friends and neighbors said Tull’s work with animals was a big part of her identity in town. Nordike said she loved dogs and took pride in grooming them. “She’d fix them dogs all up nice and pretty,” he said. Neighbors said her business brought regular traffic to the property, with customers dropping off and picking up pets throughout the week, a routine that made the sudden quiet around the home feel even sharper after police tape went up.
The killing has also sparked a wave of community support for Tull’s family. A fundraising effort to help cover funeral expenses had raised more than $3,000 by Wednesday afternoon, according to a published report, as residents and customers shared messages remembering her and offering condolences. In a town where many people recognize one another by name, residents said the loss felt personal, and the deaths of Tull and her dogs left neighbors searching for answers about how the violence reached a familiar front yard on a residential block.
Investigators have not said what prompted the welfare check, and they have not described who requested it. They also have not released information about the time of death, pending autopsy results and the review of evidence collected from the home. Forensic testing, including ballistics work tied to the gunshot wound, can take time, and detectives are expected to continue interviewing neighbors and anyone who had recent contact with Tull while they work to assemble a clear timeline of her last day.
Authorities said the investigation remained active Thursday, and they continued to encourage tips from anyone who spoke with or saw Tull in the days before she was found. The next expected milestone is additional information from investigators once interviews and evidence review narrow the timeline and potential leads.
Author note: Last updated March 5, 2026.