The two people found dead Monday in the parking lot of the Lockport Walmart were identified Wednesday, but as their autopsies are pending police said it appears the deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Lockport deputy police Chief Ron Huff said Wednesday the determination is based on the condition of the vehicle and lack of physical evidence of drug use.
“Right now, our working theory is leaning heavily toward carbon monoxide poisoning, but we’re waiting on toxicology reports,” Huff said. “It appears this was a tragic accident.”
Jeffrey S. Stucke, 53, and Jacqueline S. Birsa, 37, were pronounced dead Monday after being found in Stucke’s car parked in the parking lot at 16241 S. Farrell Road, according to the Will County coroner’s office.
The vehicle, a 2008 Dodge, had a broken tailpipe, Huff said, so given the condition of the car and no physical evidence of drug use or drug paraphernalia, police believe carbon monoxide poisoning led to their deaths. There are no signs of violence associated with their deaths, he said.
Cassie Stucke, who said she was Stucke’s daughter-in-law, said Wednesday Stucke and Birsa were dating. They were homeless, Stucke said, and would occasionally sleep inside the vehicle in the Walmart parking lot.
