‘An unspeakable tragedy’: Community mourns after mother killed, son dies in Sycamore shooting

SYCAMORE - The community is mourning the loss of a local mother killed in a shooting in Sycamore, which also resulted in the death of her son, officials from the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office confirmed.

While the Sunday afternoon shooting in the 1800 block of Coltonville Road remains under investigation, more details are emerging as those close to the victims grieve for them and the family left behind.

Connor A. Roesch, 26, of Sycamore, and Sarah R. Roesch, 49, of Shabbona were found dead inside an apartment above the Fence Sales of Sycamore business at 1851 Coltonville Road after police responded to a shooting around 3:25 p.m. Sunday. The building is owned by Richard Roesch, Sarah’s husband, also of Shabbona, according to DeKalb County land records. Richard Roesch has operated Fence Sales since 2001.

Sycamore police say preliminary details allege Connor shot his mother, called his dad to tell him what happened, and then apparently turned the gun on himself. During that time, the father and husband, Richard Roesch, called 911 as he drove up to Sycamore from Shabbona, confirmed Sycamore police officials this week.

Sycamore Dep. Police Chief Steve Cook said the 911 dispatch center received a call from Richard Roesch on Sunday afternoon about the incident before police arrived on the scene.

“He told dispatch that he had received a call from the son,” Cook said.

Cook said during the call, Richard told dispatchers that Connor said he’d shot his mother, Sarah, inside the apartment on Coltonville Road.

What’s not clear, police say, is why this happened in the first place.

‘An unspeakable tragedy’

Sarah and Richard Roesch lived in Shabbona, while their son, Connor, lived in Sycamore. Remembered as a doting mother to Connor, Sarah Roesch was a people person, those close to her said, working as a long-time server at a local eatery and as a cosmetologist, licensed since at least 2005, records show.

Chris Bahramis, who’s family owns The Junction Eating Place in DeKalb, said Sarah worked there for 20 years beginning in 1997. He said she was “also a great mother” to Connor.

“She was a terrific employee, very hard working, and honest,” Bahramis said Tuesday. “She was a fantastic server to her customers. I remember customers coming in asking where Sarah’s section was. After she stopped working at the Junction, she would always let us know if we ever needed her she would come in to help. After 20 years she was more like family to us.”

Working at the Junction was like working with family, said Greg Bahramis, who also worked with Sarah for many years at the popular establishment. He said that’s why the loss feels all the more palpable.

“An unspeakable tragedy,” Greg Bahramis, Chris’s brother, said. “I’ll always remember Sarah and Connor as a loving mother and son. She was always so proud of him and his accomplishments while he was attending school. I enjoyed working alongside her at the Junction and remember when Connor came before her shift ended and they would leave together. Sarah and Connor you will be missed.”

Jessica Myroth-Erlandson, of DeKalb, said she met Sarah Roesch as a regular customer at The Junction.

“She’s close to my age, a very nice lady, always very kind,” Myrtoh-Erlandson said. “For a mother to die at the hands of her child. My heart hurts for her and anyone who ever had to endure this pain. Fly high Sarah!”

Details yet unclear

According to Sycamore police, a firearm was found in close proximity to Connor Roesch, and investigators don’t believe anyone else besides the pair was involved.

Cook said it doesn’t appear that anyone else came in and shot the pair.

“As far as we can tell, everybody that was involved in the shooting were the people that were in there,” Cook said.

DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller said the autopsies for both Roesches happened Monday. He said the office determined both mother and son died from their gunshot wounds, Sarah’s death by apparent homicide and her son’s by apparent suicide. Both were pronounced dead on the scene once police forced their way into the apartment upstairs in the Fence Sales building.

Miller said the toxicology results for both adults are still pending.

“I don’t foresee anything [coming of that] for either of them,” Miller said.

Cook said there’s no clear motive at this point.

“Obviously there was some sort of disagreement between those two, but I don’t have those specifics on that,” Cook said.

Sycamore Police Chief Jim Winters said previously there was “at least one firearm recovered at the scene.” It’s unknown what kind of gun was used in the shooting.

The Sycamore Police Department is also seeking the public’s help, and anyone with information on the incident is urged to call 815-895-2123.