Coroner IDs Algonquin Woman, 25, Found Dead In Boyfriend's Home

LAKE COUNTY, IL — An Algonquin woman whose boyfriend was killed in a crash on Valentine's Day was found dead in his house in Lindenhurst on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, the Lake County Coroner's Office identified the woman as Kelly Hedmark, 25.

Preliminary findings from coroner's office found Hedmark died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, according to a coroner's office news release.

The woman's death is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said. Police believe the woman's boyfriend, the 25-year-old Lindenhurst man who died in a two-vehicle crash, may have caused her death, Christopher Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, told Patch.

"The woman sustained obvious signs of blunt force trauma and as of now the investigation is being classified as a homicide investigation," he said. "Based on all of the preliminary details, it appears the boyfriend is the prime person of interest, however, the investigation is still very active."

The name of the man has not yet been released.

The woman, who lived on Yosemite Parkway, was reported missing by her family after they learned that her 25-year-old boyfriend was involved in a fatal head-on crash Monday around Bates Road and Freeport Road near Rockton, according to a news release from the Major Crimes Task Force.

The boyfriend and another driver involved in the two-vehicle crash were killed, authorities said.

The 25-year-old Algonquin woman was not in her boyfriend's car at the time of the crash, and her family said she was last known to be going to the boyfriend's home in the 0 to 100 block of Beck Road in Lindenhurst on Sunday, according to the news release.

Authorities found the woman's car in the driveway of the Lindenhurst man's house, obtained a search warrant, and found the woman dead inside the home at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to police. Authorities said it appears significant blunt force trauma may have caused her death.

Covelli said the woman's phone was last tracked to an area inside the home.

"They obtained a search warrant to search the boyfriend’s home as there was probable cause the woman was inside the home as her vehicle was in the driveway and her phone was last tracked to the area of the home," Covelli said.

The incident appears to have been isolated, and there is no threat to the community, police said.

The woman's death remains under investigation, and an autopsy is being scheduled with the Lake County Coroner's Office.