A Tragic Discovery Before Midnight
Just before midnight, a Harvard, Illinois police officer spotted a vehicle pulled over on North Division Street, its hazard lights blinking in the darkness. What appeared to be a simple check-in quickly unfolded into something far more heartbreaking.
Inside the car, officers discovered two people dead — a young married couple from Wisconsin who were only days away from celebrating their first wedding anniversary.
A Love That Started in Middle School
Rachel and Brandon Dumovich had known each other for most of their lives. Their story began in middle school when they were both 12. On their wedding page, Rachel once joked, “I caught Brandon’s attention by stealing cologne from his locker and running away with it.”
The two stayed friends for 15 years before reconnecting as adults.
They officially started dating in 2022, became engaged the following summer at Big Cedar Lake, and married on October 12, 2024.
“We can’t wait to share the next chapter of our love story surrounded by our friends and family,” Rachel wrote at the time.
They shared two dogs, Dash and Cedar, a passion for travel, and a closeness their loved ones described as effortless and inseparable.
Found Inside Their Car, Hazard Lights Flashing
At around 11:52 p.m. on October 6, 2025, an officer approached their stopped vehicle, assuming someone inside might need assistance.
Instead, he found Rachel, 29, and Brandon, 30, dead inside.
Police issued a short shelter-in-place warning due to the heavy emergency response, but later clarified there was no danger to the public.
A gun was recovered from the vehicle. Early findings from the McHenry County Coroner’s Office showed both had gunshot wounds to the head.
A spokesperson told Fox News Digital: “While a murder-suicide is a potential scenario, no final determination has been made.”
Autopsy Results Reveal the Truth
Six weeks after the tragedy, Harvard Police issued an update confirming they had received the autopsy reports.
Investigators concluded that Brandon fatally shot his wife, Rachel, before turning the gun on himself. Authorities are officially treating the incident as a murder-suicide.
Police noted that while the case remains open, investigators continue to review all evidence.
Her Final Post
Only hours before she died, Rachel updated her Facebook cover photo with a sunset from Greece, writing:
“Forever chasing sunsets. Wishing we were back in Greece.”
Friends now believe it was from the couple’s recent honeymoon.
Remembering Rachel
Rachel was raised in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where she excelled in cheerleading and track. After graduating cum laude from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, she built a successful career in Human Resources.
Her obituary described her as someone with “a strong sense of empathy, compassion, social justice, and fair play,” adding that her humor and energy brightened every room she entered.
She leaves behind her parents, brother, grandmother, extended family — and her two beloved dogs.
Remembering Brandon
Brandon died just one day after turning 30. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a Petty Officer. Outside of his service, he loved RC flying, boating, snowmobiling, hunting, and fishing — hobbies his family said he pursued with endless enthusiasm.
His obituary highlighted “his deep commitment to service and his enduring passion for helping others,” qualities he carried both in and out of uniform.
He is survived by his parents, sister, grandmothers, and a large extended family.