An Illinois man who feared he and his girlfriend had contracted coronavirus fatally shot the woman before turning the gun on himself last Thursday night, authorities said.
Patrick Jesernik, 54, and 59-year-old Cheryl Schriefer — who both eventually tested negative for the virus — were found by authorities inside their Lockport Township home, according to the sheriff’s office in Will County, Illinois.
The pair, who were found in separate rooms, both had gunshot wounds to the head.
A revolver carrying three live rounds was found next to Jesernik. Two spent shell casings were also found nearby, authorities said.
Jesernik’s parents had asked police to conduct a welfare check after not hearing from their son, the report said.
Two days before the murder-suicide, Schriefer was tested for the virus as she was having difficultly breathing, family members told investigators.
Jesernik believed the two were suffering from the bug, according to family.
Last Friday, an autopsy was performed on both of them and they tested negative for the coronavirus, authorities said.
