Police have released the identity and autopsy results for a woman found decomposing on her bedroom floor in Vernon Hills, which led to a SWAT standoff involving her son, who lived in the home.
The Vernon Hills Police Department responded around 10:15 a.m. Friday to the 500 block of Saddlebrook Lane in Vernon Hills for a report of a well-being check.
Vernon Hills Deputy Police Chief Shannon Holubetz said officers learned prior to their response that Mary Barry, 81, of Vernon Hills, had not been heard from for several weeks.
The woman was known to reside with her disabled 50-year-old son, whose identity has not been released.
Officers arrived and were able to speak only momentarily with Barry’s son before he closed the door and barricaded himself in the home.
Officers could smell an odor of decomposition and called for assistance.
The Illinois State Police SWAT Team and Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Emergency Services Team (NIPAS EST) were both called to the scene “out of an abundance of caution.”
Officers entered the residence and discovered Barry’s decomposing body on the floor of her bedroom.
The woman’s son remained barricaded for several hours. The SWAT teams arrived and began working to take the man into custody.
A specialty drone was used and Barry’s son was located several hours later by the SWAT team.
He eventually complied with orders and was detained by the SWAT team.
The man was taken into custody just after 6 p.m. and turned over to Vernon Hills police, Holubetz said.
Officers escorted him to an awaiting ambulance. He appeared uninjured.
Holubetz said the man was being medically evaluated at an area hospital. He remains there as of Monday receiving treatment.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to take possession of Barry for an autopsy.
Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steven Newton told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that it was apparent the woman had been dead for an “extended period of time.”
She did not have any obvious injuries at the scene and an autopsy was performed on Monday, Newton said.
Holubetz said preliminary results indicated Barry died as a result of natural causes.
The investigation determined the last known contact with the woman occurred over a month ago.
Holubetz said it is believed Barry’s son “failed to perceive” his mother’s death due to a medical condition.
No criminal charges are expected and the home has been turned over to the Barry family.
The Mundelein Police Department assisted the Vernon Hills Police Department at the scene. Police departments from throughout the Chicagoland area were also at the scene as part of the SWAT response.
Several area roads were shut down during the investigation but were reopened as of 9 p.m. Friday.