ASHLAND, Ill. – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released information about a triple homicide in Cass County, Illinois, involving members of the same family. The victims were identified as 19-year-old Autumn Bell, 53-year-old Christina Bell, and 16-year-old Alaria Bell. The suspect, Ronald L. Cobren, 62, was later found dead from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sheriff Devron Ohrn described the incident as “heinous acts of this magnitude rock the core of any community.” The investigation is ongoing, and autopsies for the victims are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 18.
According to Ohrn, the first call for assistance came from a rural area for a man who had been shot. Upon arrival, a man was found with a gunshot wound, and a woman was also found dead. Subsequently, two more women were found dead in another location. The suspect was later located in Jacksonville and pronounced deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Jacksonville Police confirmed that there is no further risk to the public, and several police agencies, including the Illinois State Police, are involved in the investigative process. The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear what the scope of the investigation is at this time.
This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.