Wisconsin Newlyweds Found Dead in Car Days Before Their First Anniversary

SHARON, WISCONSIN – A Wisconsin couple, married less than a year, were found dead inside a car in northern Illinois just days before they were set to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, authorities confirmed.

Couple Discovered in Parked Car

According to the Harvard Police Department, officers found Rachel Dumovich, 29, and Brandon Dumovich, 30, from Sharon, Wisconsin, inside a vehicle with its hazard lights flashing around October 6.

The car was parked in a lot along North Division Street in Harvard, Illinois, about 15 miles south of the Wisconsin border.

Responding officers discovered both individuals dead from gunshot wounds, and a firearm was located inside the vehicle, the McHenry County Coroner’s Office told NBC Chicago.

Authorities said the McHenry County Major Investigative Assistance Team is assisting with the ongoing investigation.

While police initially advised residents nearby to shelter in place, officials later confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the community.

High School Sweethearts Turned Newlyweds

Rachel and Brandon had been middle school sweethearts who reconnected later in life.

A wedding page on The Knot described how Rachel met Brandon when she was 12 and caught his attention by “stealing cologne from his locker and running away with it.”

They reconnected in adulthood after “15 years of friendship” and married in October 2024 at Big Cedar Lake in Slinger, Wisconsin, according to their wedding announcement.

On social media, Rachel’s final post — just hours before her death — read, “Forever chasing sunsets. Wishing we were back in Greece,” referencing their honeymoon trip.

Community in Shock

Friends and family in Sharon and surrounding communities have expressed heartbreak at the sudden loss of the couple, who were known for their kindness and adventurous spirit.

Photos shared online show the two smiling during their travels and wedding celebrations, less than a week before what would have been their first anniversary on October 12.

Police have not yet confirmed whether the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide or if foul play by another party is suspected.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Harvard Police Department at (815) 943-4431 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at (815) 943-4343 or crimestoppers@cityofharvard.org.

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