Rockford Police Investigate Double Homicide

Rockford, Illinois- Two women were found dead Thursday morning at a home in the 3500 block of Robey Ave., in what neighbors call a relatively quiet neighborhood. Neighbors tell WTVO that one of the women found dead inside her home was an 80-year-old widow who lived alone. Neighbors also say the second woman found dead was a health care provider, who frequently came during the day to help the woman. Police say they were first called at 7 a.m. Thursday about a possible problem, when a handyman who worked for the owner of the home suspected something had gone wrong. Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro of the Rockford Police Department says, "He had not seen her, and was concerned about her welfare and contacted police. Entry was made and two women were found there, both dead." Charles Threadgill lives across the street from the crime scene and was friends with both women. Threadgill says he helped escort police into the house. "We went into the bedroom and saw them lying on the floor dead. he said. "[There were] wounds on the bodies. I thought they were knife wounds but the police said they were gunshot wounds." As of late Thursday afternoon, police would say little about where the investigation stood, except to say they were treating it as a murder investigation, and they had made no arrests. Nearby neighbors say the crime has upset their usually quiet neighborhood. Kathy Busjahan says, "It really bothers me safety-wise. I am very shook up. It is very intimidating." Autopsies are scheduled for Friday. Rockford police said their investigation is continuing.