2 men found dead with 'suspicious injuries' outside Highland Park house fire, authorities say

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WLS) — Two men were found dead as a authorities responded to a house fire in Highland Park Wednesday morning.

Death investigations are being conducted after the men, who are related, were found to have “suspicious injuries,” police said.

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Highland Park fire and police officials responded to the 1700 block of Park Ave. West for a report of flames shooting from the roof of a home that sits on an acre of property, set back from the road.

“It looks like the fire was extending feet up in the sky, and it was just kept going and going and going,” Lisa Spathis, who lives nearby, said.

She said she woke up to her dog barking. Spathis looked outside and saw the house ablaze.

“It was crazy,” Spathis said. “It wasn’t a small fire. It was igniting. And saw all the trucks out and everyone running around and it was crazy.”

Firefighters located the two deceased men outside of the home, but no other victims were found.

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Hours later into Wednesday afternoon, investigators continued to search the property for clues to what happened.

“I got an alert from the city that there was a fire on this block, and I had a feeling it was this house,” resident Metra Richter said.

The investigation brought out a swarm of first responders from several neighboring fire departments, including the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force as well as state and federal authorities.

“They went door to door to the homes around here showing a picture of a young male and asked if he looked familiar,” resident Julie Smith said.

Neighbors said the home has been up for sale on and off for years.

“This house has been for sale forever and the land next to it, so it’s quite disturbing to see something like that in our neighborhood,” resident Judy Aberman said.

A woman in her 80s lived in the home, but she passed away five days ago, police said. They said her son stayed with her at times, but police have not released the identities of the victims. Neighbors said the family lived in the neighborhood for decades but kept to themselves.

ABC7 was also told her son stayed with her at times, but police have not released the identities of the victims.

“I mean, it’s shocking,” Spathis said. “And it’s sad very sad and scary.”

Firefighters on scene said no other victims were found inside the home. Park Ave. West was closed between Ridge and Sunnyside during the investigation.

Autopsies are underway for the two deceased men, authorities said.