Highland Park, Illinois – The younger brother of two men found shot to death at the scene of a Highland Park house fire has been charged with their murders, authorities reported.
Jeffrey Austwick, 54, was apprehended at a park in St. Louis by the Lake County Major Crime Task Force following the deaths of his brothers, Marc Austwick, 63, and John Austwick, 60.
The tragic incident occurred at the 1700 block of Park Avenue West, where Jeffrey resided, a property belonging to the mother of the three siblings who had recently passed away. It is believed that Marc and John went to the home to discuss the property with Jeffrey.
Following their arrival, Jeffrey allegedly fatally shot both brothers before setting the house ablaze and fleeing the scene in his vehicle. The motive behind the killings remains unclear, as investigators determine whether any altercation occurred prior to the violence.
Currently in custody in Missouri, Jeffrey Austwick awaits an upcoming court appearance to address the charges brought against him.
Upon the arrival of emergency responders at the scene, the two men were discovered outside the residence with apparent gunshot wounds, eventually succumbing to their injuries. The Lake County Coroner’s office later confirmed the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds.
Tragically, both brothers perished at the scene, with firefighters successfully extinguishing the fire without discovering any additional victims nearby. Details regarding the incident remain limited at this time as the investigation continues.