Mother, Twin Girls Dead In Joliet Murder-Suicide

JOLIET, IL — A woman and two small children were discovered dead inside a home in the 400 block of Joliet's north Reed Street, Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton confirmed on Monday night. The Will County Coroner's office identified the mother and children as 41-year-old Celisa Henning and 6-year-old twins Makayla and Addison Henning. The three were pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m., the coroner's office said.

A family member called police shortly after 3 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene, and the caller directed them into the home where officers found the three bodies. "Our department is currently investigating it as a murder-suicide," Benton said.

"It's a very tragic incident and we're being very sensitive to family and friends of the victims involved, so we're releasing very limited information at this time," Benton told Patch.

Benton, however, said he's confident the crime will turn out to be a murder-suicide. "The preliminary evidence at the scene indicates it's a murder-suicide and there's no imminent threat to the public," the chief said. "There were a number of investigators, evidence technicians, supervisors from patrol, upwards of probably 16 officers who responded."

Given that the autopsies have yet to occur, Joliet police are withholding the apparent causes and manner of the deaths and also the time frame surrounding their deaths.

"This is a very emotional scene for our officers to respond to," Benton said.

The home in the 400 block of Reed is part of a residential neighborhood. The home is north of Glenwood Avenue, between Raynor and Midland Avenues, police said.

In the coming days, the Joliet officers who went into the home and found the three bodies will have an opportunity to undergo a stress debriefing with a licensed clinician who is affiliated with the Joliet Police Department, the chief said.

Meanwhile, Joliet investigators are just in the early stages of unraveling the events and circumstances that precipitated Monday's tragedy.

"The investigation will involve a thorough review of any medical history, past calls for services," Benton said. "There's a number of factors we'll look at before a final determination will be made."

Joliet's chief stressed that people who may have helpful information for investigators are asked to call the Joliet Police Department (815) 724-3020.

The coroner's office said autopsies were scheduled for Tuesday.

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