Autopsies completed in Elk Grove murder-suicide

A mother and son from Elk Grove Village died Friday from multiple gun shots, while the relative who killed them died from a gun shot wound and fire in a suicide, autopsies conducted Saturday concluded.

Authorities on Saturday released the formal causes of death in the murder-suicide in Elk Grove Village. Nanette Johnson, 48, and her 24-year-old son, Kenneth Sova, died from multiple gunshot wounds, the Cook County medical examiner's office said Saturday. Both deaths have been classified as homicides.

The third person involved in Friday's tragedy, 47-year-old Kenneth Johnson, died from a gunshot wound to the head and thermal injuries. His death was classified as a suicide, the medical examiner's office said.

The Johnsons were a married couple who lived in a condominium complex on the 100 block of Boardwalk Street, near Arlington Heights and Biesterfield roads.

Authorities say Kenneth Johnson shot his wife and stepson at about 7:30 a.m. Friday, then drove himself in a minivan to a soccer field across the street, set the van on fire and shot himself.

The motive for Kenneth Johnson's actions remains unclear. Elk Grove Village police offered no new information about the case Saturday. Funeral information was not available, either.

Sova was the father of a 2-year-old son, Nicholas. The toddler was not in the condominium when his father died, police said on Friday.

Police said they believe the family lived in the condo complex for at least 15 years. Officers were called to the complex on Friday by neighbors who heard the first shots. Officers arrived, forced their way into the unit and discovered two bodies.

A rifle was found inside the burned-out shell of Kenneth Johnson's van.

Friends of Sova said he was a hard worker who was devoted to his son.