In a tragic incident, a newlywed couple from Sharon, Wisconsin, was found dead in their car in Harvard, Illinois. The couple, identified as Rachel Dumovich, 29, and Brandon Dumovich, 30, were discovered by a police officer on October 6, who noticed a parked car with its hazard lights on. Upon inspection, the officer found both individuals deceased.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identities of the couple and revealed that preliminary findings indicated both had died from gunshot wounds to the head. However, the full results of the autopsy conducted by the coroner’s office have not yet been released. A gun was found inside the car, and the McHenry County Major Investigative Assistance Team was activated to investigate the incident.
Harvard Police Chief Tyson Bauman stated that the investigation is ongoing. He noted that while a murder-suicide is a potential scenario, no final determination has been made. After the discovery of the bodies, local residents were initially advised to shelter in place, but it was later determined that there was no ongoing threat to the community.
The couple, who were due to celebrate their wedding anniversary, were described as “middle school sweethearts” on a wedding page created by Rachel on The Knot. Rachel recounted how she first caught Brandon’s attention at the age of 12 by stealing cologne from his locker. The pair remained in touch through various life stages and 15 years of friendship before beginning to date in 2022.
Brandon proposed to Rachel in the summer of 2023 at Big Cedar Lake near Slinger, Wisconsin, and they were married on October 12, 2024. In a Facebook post hours before her death, Rachel wrote, “Forever chasing sunsets. Wishing we were back in Greece,” seemingly referencing their honeymoon.
The Harvard Police Department is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. They can be contacted at (815) 943-4431, or information can be provided anonymously through the Crime Stoppers hotline at (815) 943-4343 or via email at crimestoppers@cityofharvard.org.