Funeral services are set for a U.S. Navy veteran who was found dead inside a house, prompting a heavy police presence, in Woodstock as the coroner says his manner of death remains under investigation.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Woodstock Police Department responded around 2:20 p.m. on October 6 to the 10900 block of Bull Valley Drive in Woodstock initially for an unknown medical emergency.
The caller reported there was “blood everywhere,” according to fire department radio traffic.
Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the call came in as a check for well-being.
Paramedics were told to stage away from the scene while officers entered the home.
Paramedics were then told not to enter the home and were soon disregarded from the scene.
Lieb said officers located a deceased subject inside the home and the Patrol Division notified the Investigations Division, in accordance with protocol.
Detectives initiated a death investigation and the scene was secured to prevent any form of scene contamination, Lieb said.
The McHenry County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene around 4:30 p.m. They publicly identified the subject last week as John Casciaro, 64, Woodstock.
An autopsy was performed on Casciaro last week but McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein said Wednesday that a cause and manner of death has not been finalized yet.
“[…] citizens can be assured that the scene is secure, and there is no threat to the community,” Lieb said.
The chief said that foul play is not suspected in Casciaro’s death and it is likely no foul play will be found “as more facts come in.”
A heavy police presence was seen outside the 4,000-square-foot home, which is located on the corner of Bull Valley Drive and Club Road.
The home is located in the Bull Valley Golf Club subdivision, which is a single-family home community with an 18-hole private golf course.
Marked police squads and unmarked police squads were parked on the street throughout the day on October 6 and crime scene tape was set up around the property.
Detectives and the coroner’s office cleared the scene around 6:30 p.m.
“The incident remains as an open investigation, thus further information will not be released,” Lieb said.
Casciaro graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology before later enlisting in the U.S. Navy where he flew F-14s and F-16s. He later became a pilot for Delta Airlines, his obituary said.
Casciaro spent his time trading and playing golf after retirement. “John will be dearly remembered as a faithful friend, and loving husband to his wife, Heide,” his obituary said.
Casciaro leaves behind a wife of 33 years as well as several siblings and many nieces and nephews.
Friends of Casciaro are invited to visit with family from 3-7 p.m. Sunday at Davenport Family Funeral Home in Crystal Lake.
A visitation will be held at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home followed by a prayer session at 9:30 a.m.
A procession will follow to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Crystal Lake for the funeral mass at 10 a.m.