A man charged with killing his brothers outside of a Highland Park home earlier this month is due to return to Lake County within the next seven days after waiving extradition in St. Louis, authorities said.
Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said Lake County authorities are working with police in St. Louis to return Jeffrey Austwick, 54, back to Lake County on charges of murder.
He said the news comes after Austwick, of the 1700 block of Park Avenue West in Highland Park, waived extradition during a hearing in St. Louis court Tuesday morning.
The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force identified Jeffrey Austwick as the person who shot brothers John Austwick, 60, of Mundelein, and Marc Austwick, 63, of Lake Forest, outside their deceased mother’s Highland Park home at 3:50 a.m. on June 5.
Austwick has been held without bond in St. Louis County while awaiting the court hearing Tuesday morning, court records show.
Authorities said the preliminary investigation shows brothers Marc and John Austwick went to the house on June 5 to discuss the property with their brother, Jeffrey.
The home was owned by the mother of the three Austwicks, but she recently passed away, authorities said.
After the two brothers arrived at the house, Jeffrey Austwick allegedly shot his brothers, then set the house on fire, authorities said.
After Jeffrey Austwick fled the area, investigators obtained a nationwide arrest warrant for him on two counts of murder.
He was taken into custody Friday morning by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police, authorities said.
A Facebook post released by St. Louis Metropolitan Police said Austwick was spotted hiding in some bushes near Walnut and 7th streets near the St. Louis Arch.
Authorities also said he was armed with a gun.
At 3:50 a.m. on June 5, the Highland Park Police Department and Highland Park Fire Department responded to the home after a neighbor reported the house was on fire.
Firefighters arrived and found the house was heavily involved in flames.
While evaluating the fire, firefighters found Marc and John Austwick dead in the grass outside.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed both men died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Firefighters eventually extinguished the fire with the help of other fire departments.
A crime scene was immediately established and numerous police and fire investigators, including personnel from the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, the Illinois State Fire Marshal, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Authorities said the murder of the brothers in Highland Park appeared to be isolated and there was no threat to the community.
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