Officials identify one of the women found dead in Antioch apartment
Lake County coroner officials have released the identity of one of the two women found dead in an Antioch apartment this week.
The 82-year-old victim was identified as Dorothy Varner. Assistant Coroner Orlando Portillo said Varner’s cause of death remains under investigation, but he added that she was a resident of the apartment in the 1200 block of Main Street where her body was found Monday.
Portillo said officials are awaiting fingerprint analysis of the 61-year-old woman who also was found dead in the apartment. He said her cause of death also remains under investigation.
“Because (the 61-year-old female) has no family in the area, we need to verify her identity using fingerprint analysis,” Portillo said Thursday. “We’re hoping to have something soon.”
Authorities have previously said the two women were related to Billy Varner, 54, also of the 1200 block of Main Street, who is wanted for questioning regarding the deaths.
Antioch Police issued a news release Thursday saying they still have not located Billy Varner or the missing van he was last seen driving.
Members of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, who are leading the investigation, would not say why police want to speak with him except that they believe he may be the last person to see the two women alive.
A $500,000 arrest warrant remains active for Varner, but officials said the warrant is for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
Task force chief George Filenko did not return phone calls Thursday seeking additional information.
Billy Varner is described as a white male who last seen driving a 2002 tan Chevy extended conversion van with the registration N943872. The van has damage to the rear passenger-side taillight area, officials had said in a news release.
Police warn that Varner should not be approached. If anyone sees him, they are urged to call 911 or the Antioch Police Department at (847) 395-8585.