Crime & Safety

Neighbor: Schmitt 'A Really Nice Guy;' Son 'A Cute Kid'

Kendall County coroner calls case one of the most difficult he's handled.

OUTSIDE CHICAGO -- A neighbor of the man who was found dead in his garage along with his 4-year-old son said Thursday afternoon he was a "really nice guy."

“It was a complete shock to everybody,” said neighbor Andrew Meyer, 18. “Me and my mom came home and saw all these cop cars. We’re like what happened? Did someone break in, was someone hurt?”

Meyer said he spent time at the home of Joseph R. Schmitt and his son, Wyland, over the summer helping mow the lawn as Schmitt had back problems. 

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“Wyland was a cute kid,” Meyer said. “He always wanted to play with me every time I was over there.”

READ MORE: UPDATE: Police Find Man and Boy Dead in Yorkville Home

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Yorkville police are investigating the death of Schmitt and his son. The pair were found dead at about 3:20 p.m. at Schmitt's single-family home in the 300 block of Bertram Drive in Yorkville. Police were called to the home for a well-being check and father and son were found in the garage. 

“This is an isolated case and there is no threat to the community,” said Yorkville Police Chief Richard Hart. 

In a telephone interview Thursday afternoon Kendall County Coroner Ken Toftoy said an autopsy is set for Friday, and he does not expect results from the autopsy or toxicology report for approximately 10 days.

He described the case as the toughest during his tenure at the Kendall County Coroner's Office. He said it was a tough weight on him emotionally particularly when they removed the body of Wyland from the scene.

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