Police: 81-year-old Round Lake man dies trying to kill girlfriend's son

An 81-year-old Round Lake Park man is dead after an attempt to kill his girlfriend's son backfired and cost him his own life, police officials said.

William Mielke of 301 E. Elder Drive in Round Lake Park doused the son - Randy Edwards, 52, of Burlington, Wis. - with a highly flammable substance then tried to ignite him in the one-car garage at 4:48 p.m. Tuesday, Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said.

However, after Mielke set an inside wall in the garage on fire and sprayed Edwards with the substance, Edwards was able run out a garage door away from the flames, Filenko said.

The garage quickly became engulfed in flames, Filenko said, with Mielke trapped inside. Edwards ran in the house and called 911.

"We aren't sure what was sprayed on the son at this point," Filenko said. "We think it was gasoline, but it's still under investigation."

Filenko added the case has been officially declared an attempted murder.

"Mielke was staying with his girlfriend in her house, and she was leaving to move in with her son in Wisconsin," Filenko said. "It sounds like Mielke was so distraught that he decided to kill the son, but got caught in the flames."

Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said an autopsy held Monday morning showed Mielke died of smoke inhalation from the blaze.

The fire was extinguished by members of the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District at about 6 p.m. Mielke was pronounced dead at the scene.

Edwards was treated for injuries at the scene and released.

The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force was called in to assist in the investigation, along with the State Fire Marshall.