Crime & Safety

Man Shot His 2 Brothers, Set Highland Park House On Fire: Police

Jeff Austwick was arrested Friday morning in St. Louis on a warrant for the slaying of his brothers Marc and John, authorities said.

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The Lake County Major Crime Task Force and Highland Park Police Department have opened a homicide investigation into the deaths of two men found early Wednesday outside a burning house on Park Avenue West.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force and Highland Park Police Department have opened a homicide investigation into the deaths of two men found early Wednesday outside a burning house on Park Avenue West. (Max Weingardt)

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A Highland Park man shot his two brothers before setting the family home on fire, authorities said Friday.

Marc Austwick, 63, of Lake Forest, and John Austwick, 60, of Mundelein, both died as the result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office.

Firefighters found their bodies outside a house fire in the 1700 block of Park Avenue West early Wednesday morning.

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No other victims were found inside the house, which belongs to the Austwick family and appeared to be listed for sale at the time.

The mother of the two brothers who were killed had died just five days earlier.

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Fire crews found the bodies of two people outside a house fire in Highland Park early Wednesday morning. (Max Weingardt)

Investigators identified a younger brother as a suspect and obtained a nationwide arrest warrant for him late Wednesday.

Jeff Austwick, 54, was arrested around 5:30 a.m. Friday at a park in St. Louis, Missouri, according to a spokesperson for Lake County Major Crimes Task Force.

Task force spokesperson Chris Covelli said in a statement that investigators believe Marc and John went to the Park Avenue West home to discuss their late mother's home with Jeff,

"The investigation shows after they arrived, Jeffrey shot Marc and John, then set the home on fire," Covelli said. "Jeffrey then fled from the area in his vehicle."

Jeff Austwick remains in custody in Missouri pending an initial court hearing.

Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies were called to assist after Highland Park firefighters found two men dead at the scene of a house fire early Wednesday morning. (Max Weingardt)

Earlier: Brothers Found Dead Outside Burning Highland Park Home Were Shot To Death

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