Political Expert, 2 Sons Identified In Illinois Murder-Suicide

CHERRY VALLEY, IL — Two boys and their father were found dead with gunshot wounds inside their bedrooms at the Illinois home of a renowned political scientist who has been cited as an expert by the New York Times, the Associated Press and the Washington Post, among other major news outlets. On Sunday afternoon, local station WIFR reported, authorities identified the bodies of Peter Ruckman, 58, and his sons, 14-year-old Christopher and 12-year-old John.

The bodies were found Saturday morning and authorities were investigating the deaths as a double murder-suicide. Authorities did not immediately release the names of the father and sons pending notification of next of kin.

The Winnebago County Coroner released their identities early Sunday afternoon. Detectives believe Ruckman shot his sons before killing himself, WIFR reported.

The home is located on the 4600 block of Chandan Woods Drive in Cherry Valley and belongs to Ruckman and his recently divorced wife Heidi Ruckman, the Rockford Register Star reported, citing Winnebago County property tax records.

The newspaper said the man's ex-wife asked authorities to conduct a welfare check when she hadn't heard from her husband in a couple days and it was her weekend to take the children.

The Ruckmans officially divorced in August, the newspaper said.

According to his website, Ruckman was a political science professor at Rock Valley College and an instructor at Northern Illinois University.

Tragic story out of Cherry Valley - #Murder #Suicide #Tragic #CherryValley #Rockfordhttps://t.co/uguq2dVDUO
— Miralem | 23News (@MiralemBotic) March 4, 2018

Photo credit: Renee Shiavone, Patch