Bodies of couple found after house fire in Inverness

INVERNESS, Ill. (AP) - A suburban Chicago woman whose body was retrieved Sunday from the burning home she shared with her husband died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said Monday.

Inverness Police Chief Bob Haas said 82-year-old Marlene Pieracci, 82, was found inside a vehicle in the garage of the home. Hass said her husband, Mario Pieracci, 84, was found in the living area of the house and appears to have died as a result of the fire.

Palatine Rural Fire Protection District firefighters called to the residence Sunday arrived to find heavy flames and smoke at the back of the split-level home. Fire Chief Rich May said they were hampered by the amount of snow piled up around the house, but were able to get hose lines up and knock down the fire in under 20 minutes.

Firefighters pulled Mario Pieracci from the home, but efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, authorities said.

Firefighters did not find Marlene Pieracci as quickly because the garage was not on fire, Haas said. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Hass said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but police do not believe there was foul play involving someone outside the home.