Couple identified in apparent murder-suicide in Aurora

The Kane County Coroner’s Office has identified the couple as Lee Bell, 67, and Sharon Bell, 69.

The preliminary cause of death is consistent with gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the Kane County Coroner’s Office. Just after 3 p.m. Dec. 22, Aurora’s 911 telecommunications center received a call requesting officers to check the welfare of two subjects at a residence in the 1800 block of Sapphire Lane in Aurora.

The caller told the telecommunication center the residents had not picked up their newspapers in several days, according to a news release from the Aurora Police Department. Officers responded to the single-family residence.

Based on what the officers observed at the residence, they forced entry into the home with the assistance of the Aurora Fire Department, the release stated. When officers entered the residence, they found a man and woman dead from gunshot wounds in an apparent murder-suicide.

Detectives from the Aurora Police Department’s Bureau of Investigations responded to the scene and began investigating the specific circumstances of the incident, according to the release. Evidence technicians also responded to the scene to identify and collect forensic evidence from the shooting.

A canvass of the neighborhood was conducted and information was received from neighbors that assisted with the investigation. The Kane County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to take possession of the deceased individuals and performed autopsies earlier today to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

Detectives are still investigating the incident, but preliminary information leads them to believe that this a domestic-related incident, the release stated. Those with any information about the case are asked to call the Aurora Police Department’s Investigations Division at 630-256-5500.

They can also call the Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000 to report information regarding the incident anonymously.