Authorities Investigating Another Prank Call Regarding Murders in Lake Co.

A prankster has likely struck again.

After authorities in Hawthorn Woods received a 911 call at 11:28 a.m. Thursday from a person who said he’d just murdered his parents, a similar call came in Thursday evening to Vernon Hills police dispatch, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office press release. In the call Thursday evening, the caller told authorities he had just killed his mother with a firearm at a residence in the 23600 block of North Apple Hill Lane in unincorporated Lincolnshire.

Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the home near Lincolnshire and found the family all safe inside.

A similar situation played out earlier in the day regarding the fraudulent call with authorities responding to the scene at 184 Bluebird Court where the caller, who identified himself as a 19-year-old, said he’d murdered his parents. Authorities set up a perimeter around the residence, according to a news release.

About five minutes after that call, Lake Zurich dispatch received a second call from someone who sounded to be the same person, according to a news release. The caller said his sister was inside the residence with him and he had a bomb. He said he would not surrender to police officers, but instead was going to detonate the bomb.

More agencies responded, including Lake County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team.

Investigators quickly worked to identify the homeowners of 184 Bluebird Court. They found the name the caller used belonged to a family who no longer lived there. Investigators located the family in a nearby community and all were found to be safe. They also reported they received numerous harassing telephone calls over the course of the day, according to police.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team entered 184 Bluebird Court and found nothing suspicious. Nobody was inside the residence and there was no indication of foul play. Investigators made contact with the new homeowners and all were found to be safe, according to a news release.

Authorities believe there is likely a connection between the Lincolnshire incident and the incident in Hawthorn Woods.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to the unincorporated Lincolnshire scene and will continue working with Hawthorn Woods investigators to determine who is responsible for making these fraudulent telephone calls, police said.