Two found dead in South Beloit home; coroner investigating as murder-suicide

The South Beloit Police Department says two people were found dead in a Gardner Street home on Monday morning, Sept. 16, 2025 after officers were called for a welfare check. The home is near Neli's Restaurant and Angela's Attic.

According to the department’s statement, officers arrived around 9 a.m. and saw a vehicle in the driveway but received no answer at the door. They noted a bullet hole in a window that appeared to have come from inside.

After entering the residence, officers located two individuals who had died from gunshot wounds. A firearm was found near one of the victims. The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office has since said the case is being investigated as a domestic-related murder-suicide, with evidence suggesting the woman died first before the man took his own life. Police say there is no threat to the community.

A similar tragedy took place in Roscoe on New Years Day 2025.

A GoFundMe fundraiser created on Sept. 18 identifies the female victim as Linda Oldenburg. Organizers say the funds will assist her family with funeral and memorial expenses, since they had no savings or insurance. Friends remember Linda as a waitress at area restaurants. Last year she and her daughter helped us publish an obituary for her mother, Janet Diesing. The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office says the South Beloit resident was 68 years old, but has not issued a formal news release.

Tammy Nelson-Miller, the family friend of the couple and the organizer of the GoFundMe, told WTVO that the man was Raymond L. Saunders III. “I think he just completely snapped. I really don’t think he knew what he was doing because he would have never,” she said. She says Saunders had been Oldenburg's boyfriend for 25 years. The coroner listed him as age 55.

Both the South Beloit Police Department and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department are continuing the investigation.

South Beloit Police Department release, Sept. 16:

At approximately 0900 hours on 9/16/2025 the South Beloit Police Department was called to a home in the 1000 block of Gardner St in reference to a welfare check. Upon arrival officers located a vehicle in the driveway but received no answer at the door. Officers observed a bullet hole in an exterior window that appeared to have come from inside the home.

Entry was made to the residence and officers located two deceased individuals inside. Both subjects appeared to have died due to gunshot wounds and a firearm was located in close vicinity to one victim.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department and the Beloit Police Department assisted with the crime scene investigation and the South Beloit Police Department is handling the criminal investigation.

This is an ongoing investigation but at this time we do not believe that there is any danger to the public.

We would like to express our sincere condolences to the families involved in this incident.