Mundelein couple, their son and grandson identified as among 5 killed in shooting

The five people found shot to death in a Mundelein home in the 200 block of Wellington Ave. late Sunday night have been identified by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

Four of those killed in what police have called an apparent murder-suicide were relatives, and one was in a long-term relationship with one of the deceased.

The victims include couple James Schmidt, 80, and Rebecca Schmidt, 77, both of whom resided at the home. Autopsy results indicate they died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Their grandson Maclaine Schmidt, 22, of Lake Bluff, died from a gunshot to the head, the coroner’s office reported.

Nicole Heiser, 37, recently of Antioch and formerly of Lake Bluff, also died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the coroner. She was in a long-term relationship with Bryan Schmidt, the fifth and final person found dead in the home. He was the 51-year-old son of James and Rebecca Schmidt and father of Maclaine Schmidt.

While the person responsible for what police said was a murder-suicide was not specifically identified, the release indicates Bryan Schmidt died from an “intraoral gunshot wound of the head,” meaning a gun was fired through his mouth.

Longtime veterinarians

According to property records, the home was owned by James and Rebecca Schmidt. The couple were veterinarians and Rebecca founded the Northern Illinois Cat Clinic in Libertyville in 1982, according to an archived version of the business’ website.

The website indicates the clinic focused entirely on feline medicine, surgery, and care. Rebecca Schmidt graduated with honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973 and was the first female veterinarian to complete a post-graduate internship in 1975, the website said.

She had a “special interest in feline internal medicine,” the website said.

“Her fascination is motivated by the cat’s ability to hide disease symptoms and resist human intervention,” the website said. “Dr. Schmidt’s dedication, experience, knowledge of feline medicine and surgery, and gentle touch combine to make her a special member of the Northern Illinois Cat Clinic PC Team.”

She was a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, the website said.

Bryan Schmidt worked as the clinic manager. Coming from a “pair of veterinarian parents, animal love and care was bred into him,” the website said.

“When you discuss developing radiographs as a twelve-year-old, experience is an understatement,” it said.

Neighboring businesses say the clinic closed about two years ago, and the space now houses a chiropractor business and hair salon. According to Illinois business data, the business was dissolved earlier this year.

Bodies discovered

Officers went to the house about 11:45 p.m. Sunday after a relative who had been unable to contact one of the victims called police, officials said.

The officers entered the home through an unlocked door and discovered bodies in several rooms, Deputy Police Chief Rick Wilfenger said. All seemed to have been shot at close range with a handgun.

Two handguns were also found in the home, police said.

Police hadn’t received any reports of gunshots, Wilfenger said. The department has no history of emergency calls from the house, he said, nor was there a history of police interactions with the deceased.

On Tuesday, a small memorial consisting of flowers and a candle sat outside the home. A police vehicle was parked down the block, but yellow tape and other indications of the large law enforcement present on the scene Monday was absent.

Wellington Avenue resident Debbie Wunluck on Monday called the home’s residents “very quiet people.”

The violence was “such a shock,” Wunluck said.

“Nothing like this happens around here,” she added.

Madeline Buckley contributed to this report.