10 Deaths Reported At Great Lakes Naval Base, Housing Associated With Base In 2025: Coroner

GREAT LAKES, IL — There have been ten deaths on the grounds of Great Lakes Naval Station or in housing related to the base in the past year, according to information provided to Patch by the Lake County Coroner's Office.

Three of the deaths were found to be from natural causes, while five were ruled to be suicides, according to Lake County Coroner's Office data. One was ruled to be a homicide and one was accidental.

All but two of the young people who have died were active service members and all of those who died were under 40 years old, with five people in their 30s, four people in their 20s and one person who was a teen.

Here is a closer look at the deaths that have occurred at Great Lakes or in Great Lakes housing:

• A 37-year-old man who died from a gunshot wound caused by a suicide on base. He was an active duty service member.
• A 26-year-old man — and active duty service member — who died from natural causes in Great Lakes housing.
• A 32-year-old woman who died from natural causes in a personal residence. She was an active duty service member.
• A 39-year-old man, and a spouse of a service member, who died from a gunshot wound in Great Lakes Naval Base housing. The death was ruled to be a suicide.
• A 36-year-old woman, who was killed by a gunshot wound, in Great Lakes housing. The death of the woman, who was an active duty service member, has been ruled to be a homicide.
• A 36-year-old man, an active duty service member who died of natural causes at the hospital.
• A 28-year-old woman, who is an active duty service member, who died by suicide in a motor vehicle crash on the base.
• A 22-year-old man and active service member whose death was determined to be accidental and from an overdose. He died in the hospital.
• An 18-year-old man who died from a gunshot wound on the base. The active duty service member's death has been ruled to be a suicide.
• A 20-year-old woman who died in Great Lakes housing from an overdose. The woman was a dependent of a service member, and her death has been ruled a suicide.

Stephen Newton, chief deputy with the Lake County Coroner's Office, said the number of deaths so far in 2025 is above normal from past years. Patch.com has reached out to a Navy spokesman for a comment on these deaths, but has not yet heard back.

Some of the deaths have made headlines, including the deaths of John Taylor, 39, and Olivia Lacey, 36, last month. Their bodies were found in Navy housing in the 2300 block of California Avenue in North Chicago on Oct. 10, according to Navy officials and the coroner's office.

Investigators believe Taylor shot Lacey and then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide, which remains under investigation by the North Chicago Police Department. Lacey was an active service member at Great Lakes, officials told Patch.

Both Taylor and Lacey lived at the house where the shootings occurred. They were in a relationship, but it is unclear if they were legally married, Newton told Patch.

"We mourn the loss of our shipmate and extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and coworkers of the Sailor and the other individual involved. Our thoughts are with all those affected during this difficult time," according to a statement from the Navy. "Grief counseling and support services are available through the chain of command and the command chaplain."

• Navy Recruit Among 2 Found Dead At Great Lakes Naval Station: Authorities

In August, Kayshawn Wilkerson, who is originally from Ocala, Florida, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Preliminary results from an autopsy show the gunshot wound appears to be self-inflicted.

The incident happened at about 1:45 p.m. on August 6 at one of the firing ranges on the base, Stephen Newton, deputy chief with the coroner's office, told Patch in August. The coroner's office was called to the scene at 4:15 p.m.

• Navy Recruit Dies After Incident At Firing Range At Great Lakes Naval Station: Coroner

Patch.com has reached out to Navy officials to see if any protocols have been put in place, or changes that may have been made at Great Lakes, due to the number of deaths this past year. Patch.com has not yet heard back and will update this article with more information as it becomes available.