In a heartbreaking event in Harvard, Illinois, a husband and wife were found dead in their car, just days before they were to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. The couple, Rachel and Brandon Dumovich, were discovered in their parked car on North Division Street, a main road in the village, about 75 miles northwest of Chicago.
The grim discovery was made by a Harvard Police Department officer who noticed the car with its hazard lights on just before midnight on Monday. Upon further investigation, the officer found the couple, a 29-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, lifeless in the driver and passenger seats. Both had suffered gunshot wounds, and a firearm was found in the car.
Following the discovery, local authorities shut down the surrounding roads and advised residents to stay indoors. However, by 7:30 the next morning, the roads were reopened as police determined there was no ongoing threat to the community. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, as police have yet to release their findings.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office later confirmed the identities of the couple, who were originally from Sharon, Wisconsin, a town about 12 miles northwest of Harvard, across the state border. According to an online wedding profile, the couple’s relationship began in middle school and culminated in marriage on October 12, 2024.
The profile, presumably written by Rachel Dumovich, tells the story of how she first caught Brandon’s attention by stealing his cologne from his locker. The couple maintained their friendship through various stages of life for 15 years before they began dating in 2022. Just hours before her tragic death, Rachel Dumovich posted a photo of a sunset on Facebook, expressing a desire to return to Greece.
The Harvard Police Department is still investigating the case and has asked anyone with information to come forward.