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Yorkville death investigation continues

Yorkville police continue to probe the deaths of a 35-year-old man and his 4-year-old son who were found inside their garage this week.

Police were performing a well-being check Wednesday at the house on the 300 block of Bertram Drive when they entered the garage and discovered Joseph Schmitt and his son, Wyland, lying unconscious on the ground.

Schmitt was the manager of security at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, hospital officials confirmed Friday.

Autopsies were performed Friday, but the official causes of death weren’t expected to be released until next week when toxicology results would be available, according to the Kendall County coroner’s office.

Kendall County Coroner Ken Toftoy said the man’s estranged wife was with police Wednesday when they opened the garage door and found the victims. They were found near a vehicle, which was not running at the time but may have been earlier, authorities said.

Schmitt had recently had surgery and was on medical leave from his job, said Barb Fallon, a spokeswoman with Provena St. Joseph Hospital.

Yorkville Police Chief Rich Hart said he was waiting on official results from the coroner’s office before discussing how the man and his son may have died. He said there was no danger to anyone in the community, and that police weren’t pursuing any suspects.

“We were kind of hoping the coroner’s office could give us something today,” Hart said. “We just wanna be careful.”

Hart said the death investigation has been especially difficult for his officers.

“The initial responding officer has been an officer for 20-plus years. A lot of officers there were very senior. Any type of death investigation always takes a toll on anybody, but it’s worse when it involves a child. This has affected everybody personally.”

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