Tragic Discovery: Widow and Son of Former Chicago Commissioner Found Dead in Home

A well-known family in Chicago is under the spotlight as authorities delve into a tragic double homicide case. The widow and son of the late Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer were discovered fatally shot in their West Side residence on Tuesday.

Chicago police responded to the scene in North Lawndale shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon arrival, they found 51-year-old Barbara Deer and her 23-year-old son, Kaleb Deer, dead from gunshot wounds, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago.

The report detailed that Barbara Deer was shot multiple times in the chest, while her son Kaleb sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

At this time, the circumstances surrounding how the bodies were discovered remain unclear.

According to Chicago police, both the widow and son of the former Cook County commissioner were tragically found shot to death within their West Side home.

Police noted a weapon was found at the scene, though its details have not yet been publicly released.

Neighbor Rev. Chris Griffin told WGN-TV there was suspicious activity at the Deer household before police responded, noting he received a call to “check on someone in Barbara’s home.”

This graphic, taken from the Fox News Channel on Nov. 12, showcases a drop-off in Chicago crime statistics since the dawn of Operation Midway Blitz. (Fox News)

“We didn’t know what was going on,” Griffin told the outlet. “When we got here, the house was locked, both doors were closed, their dog was outside barking, which is not normal. … The dog had been out for over an hour, and that was a little bit of a red flag.”

The deaths are being investigated as homicide, according to the report. No arrests have been announced.

Authorities have not yet released any suspect information or arrests. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, File)

Barbara Deer, a North Lawndale native, married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Deer, 51, who died in 2024 following a double lung transplant, FOX 32 and WGN-TV reported.

She was active in the community, volunteering and sitting on various community committees.