Veterinarian kills parents, son and girlfriend then himself

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 02:32 · Archive

A 51-year-old veterinarian in Illinois shot dead his elderly parents, son and girlfriend before taking his own life, leaving multiple suicide notes.

Bryan Schmidt, 51, a veterinarian who managed the Northern Illinois Cat Clinic in Libertyville, shot dead his parents James and Rebecca Schmidt (aged 80 and 77), his son Maclaine (22) and girlfriend Nicole Heiser (37) at his home in Mundelein, Illinois on Sunday before taking his own life.

All five were found shot at close range with a handgun. James and Rebecca died from multiple gunshot wounds. Maclaine and Heiser died from gunshot wounds to the head. Bryan died from an intraoral gunshot wound, which the coroner's office determined appeared to be suicide. Two handguns were found at the scene.

Police discovered the bodies just before midnight after receiving a welfare check request from Schmidt's 44-year-old sister in California, who had been unable to reach her parents. Authorities recovered multiple suicide notes left by Bryan at the scene and in his vehicle, but have not disclosed their contents or indicated a possible motive. Schmidt had no prior police interactions and the neighbourhood was not called to the house before. The deaths shocked the suburban Chicago village of Mundelein, which has a crime rate significantly lower than the national average.

How it is being reported

• Midwest veterinarian wrote multiple suicide notes then killed his elderly parents, girlfriend, son and himself at home, cops sayBryan Schmidt, 51, who ran the Northern Illinois Cat Clinic, left suicide notes inside his vehicle and at his parent's home before police said he killed his family and took his own life.Daily Mail · 22 Oct, 02:16
• Vet left ‘multiple’ notes before gunning down parents, son and girlfriend in shocking murder-suicideThe shocking mass murder-suicide in a notoriously safe Illinois village was committed by a veterinarian who gunned down his elderly parents, son and girlfriend before shooting himself dead, according to cops who said he left “multiple suicide notes.” Bryan Schmidt, who managed his family’s now-shuttered cat clinic, was identified as the deranged killer who slaughtered...New York Post · 21 Oct, 14:38

In this story: Bryan Schmidt · James Schmidt · Rebecca Schmidt · Maclaine Schmidt · Nicole Heiser · Northern Illinois Cat Clinic · Mundelein

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