54-Year-Old Man Kills Partner And Himself Over Fears They Had Coronavirus

A 54-year-old man identified as Patrick Jesernik in Illinois reportedly shot and killed his 59-year-old partner, Cheryl Schriefer and himself after suspecting they both contracted the coronavirus.

Both Jesernik and Schriefer were tested for the virus two days prior to their deaths but never saw the results. After they died, their tests came back negative, Complex reports.

According to a press release from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, both of them  were found in separate rooms of the residence, already dead. The statement reads:

All of the doors and windows of the residence were locked from the inside. Police and fire personnel forced entry into the residence.

Deputies located Patrick Jesernik, age 54, and Cheryl Schriefer, age 59, in separate rooms of the residence, both deceased. Both individuals had a pooling of blood formed around their heads. A loaded revolver, containing two spent shell casings and three live rounds were located near Patrick’s body. There were no signs of a struggle, and the home was neat and orderly.

An autopsy confirmed that Schriefer’s death was a homicide and Jesernik’s was a suicide.

The Sheriff’s Office concluded the press release by mentioning that there has been a rise in domestic disputes during the COVID-19 pandemic: “During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the vast majority of service calls that Deputies have been responding to, involve domestic disputes and crisis intervention calls”, while also stating domestic violence hotlines should anyone be found in a similar situation.