Joliet Murder-Suicide As Woman Stabbed, Man Takes Own Life: English

JOLIET, IL — A 35-year-old woman from Joliet was killed with a kitchen knife, and then her killer took his own life by stabbing himself. The married couple's 3-year-old child was inside the home and was unharmed, according to Joliet police.

Saturday's murder-suicide happened around 11 a.m., according to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English. Will County's Coroner Laurie Summers identified the victim by her married name of Melissa S. Aud-Headlee; the murder victim was previously known by her name of Melissa Ronczkowski.

As for the killer, he was identified by the coroner as Michael Aud-Headlee of Carmi, Illinois.

English said at 11:10 a.m., Joliet police went to the 3400 block of Pandola Avenue, near the intersection of Timberline Drive, for a woman being stabbed while in the street.

Officers discovered a 35-year-old woman lying in the street with multiple stab wounds to her chest, English said. Officers then found a 32-year-old man lying on the ground in a nearby driveway, also with multiple stab wounds to his chest.

Officers learned the man was the woman's estranged husband, and they were in the process of a divorce, according to police.

Joliet police say the man was the aggressor, and he arrived at his wife’s residence and a disturbance occurred, causing her to run from the home.

The man chased after the woman while armed with a kitchen knife. English said he caught up to the victim in the street near the home and began to stab her multiple times in the chest.

Following the attack on the woman, police said the man was seen by witnesses stabbing himself in the chest multiple times. Joliet officers found the man found on the ground in the driveway of the victim’s residence. The knife used in the attack was recovered.

The man and woman were taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center, where they both died, by the Joliet Fire Department.

Officers and detectives conducted an extensive canvas of the neighborhood, which included speaking to witnesses of this incident. Per Illinois mandated reporting requirements, the Department of Children and Family Services was contacted after Joliet police determined that the couple’s 3-year-old son was at the house during the incident.

The child was not harmed. No other people were found to be at the home, police said.

"This was determined to be a targeted domestic-related incident and there is no threat to the community. This incident remains under active investigation," English said.

Meanwhile, one person posted on the coroner's Facebook that "there are 3 children. 1 was home. .. 1 came home and witnessed it and the other was not home."

The day before she died, Melissa Ronczkowski posted a short video on her Facebook page showing one of her sons riding his little dirt bike on Timberline Drive and back to his driveway on Pandola Avenue.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Joliet Murder Victim's Court Documents: 'Abuse From Michael Is So Severe and So Extreme'