A couple from Wisconsin, married for under a year, was found deceased in their car in northern Illinois just days before their first wedding anniversary. Authorities are looking into a potential murder-suicide scenario.
The victims, identified as Rachel Noel Dumovich, 29, and Brandon Peter Dumovich, 30, were both residents of Sharon, Wisconsin. Their bodies were located on October 6 in a parked vehicle along Route 14 in Harvard, Illinois.
A police officer, initially thinking the car was broken down due to its flashing hazard lights, discovered the couple inside. Reports indicate each had suffered a gunshot wound, and a firearm was recovered from the scene.
Harvard University Police Chief Tyson Bauman commented that while it’s a possibility this could be classified as a murder-suicide, a conclusion has yet to be reached.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office is performing an autopsy and conducting toxicology tests, with help from the McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team (MIAT) on forensic matters. Authorities have stated there is currently no threat to the public.
The couple’s love story spanned years before their wedding. They originally met as middle school classmates, and apparently, Rachel made an impression by “stealing cologne from his locker and running away,” as she mentioned on their wedding website.
After reconnecting as adults, they started dating in 2022. Brandon proposed in the summer of 2023 at Big Cedar Lake, which holds personal significance for Rachel and her family. They tied the knot on October 12, 2024, surrounded by family and friends.
Friends remarked on how inseparable Rachel and Brandon were, enjoying travel, outdoor activities, and peaceful evenings with their dogs, Dash and Cedar.
Rachel earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and had built a career in human resources, recently holding the position of Human Resources Manager at Climate Pros, LLC.
Brandon served in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of Petty Officer, and pursued hobbies such as radio-controlled flying, boating, snowmobiling, fishing, and hunting.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information to reach out to the Harvard Police Department at (815) 943-4431, anonymously through the Crime Stoppers hotline at (815) 943-4343, or by emailing crimestoppers@cityofharvard.org.
For those in New York City facing suicidal thoughts or mental health crises, free and confidential support is available at 1-888-NYC-WELL. Outside the city, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
