Autopsies scheduled for today

Sheriff: Incident appears to have stemmed from a ‘domestic problem’

POLO – Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn said Friday that he is awaiting autopsy results before determining whether the death of a rural couple found dead behind their home was the result of a murder-suicide.

An autopsy is scheduled at 10 a.m. today for Gerald L. Fossler, 49, and Vickie L. Weegens, 55, a longtime couple who were found shot to death Thursday in their backyard at 4170 S. Evergreen Road.

Harn said Friday that this appears to be an isolated incident that stemmed from a “domestic problem” between the two.

He would not confirm that the case is being investigated as a murder-suicide, saying he is waiting for autopsy results before making a final determination.

The sheriff’s department was called about 12:10 p.m. Thursday by a motorist driving by the house who thought they saw a body lying in the yard.

Harn said a gun, which belonged to Fossler, was found “in the vicinity” of the bodies. It also appears the shooting took place outdoors and there was no evidence of a struggle inside the house, Harn said.

He declined to say what kind of gun was found or who may have fired the shots.

Harn said the couple had lived together in the home for more than 10 years. He added that the investigation was ongoing and that deputies were still trying to track down some family members of the victims.

“My heart goes out to everybody,” Harn said. “I think this was a case of two people not getting along. Something pushed someone’s buttons, and tragic and bad things happened.”