Couple found dead in Villa Park home

The bodies of a man and a woman were found in a Villa Park house Monday morning by police, authorities said.

Police issued an alert for a male suspect, who they said was possibly driving a taxi cab. They said he was armed and dangerous.

The bodies were found in a one-story brick house in the 0-99 block of West Ridge Road on Monday morning.

The police activity closed nearby North School for the day. Students reported to Jefferson Middle School to start their school day Monday, then were shuttled to various schools in District 45 as the activity at a house on the first block of West Ridge Road continued during the morning, district Superintendent William Schewe said.

The district was notified at 6:45 a.m. by Villa Park police that a SWAT team would be going in the house near the school, Schewe said. District officials and police decided to have students report elsewhere for their first morning back from the holiday vacation.

"It was a mutual decision," he said.

At about 8:15 a.m., police notified the district that the activity at the house would continue for three more hours. At that time, students in kindergarten through third grade were sent to Schaffer School; the fourth grade was sent to Ardmore School; and the fifth grade was sent to Westmore, Schewe said.

"We're hoping it will end and we can return them to North," he said.

The school had not officially been closed for the day, he said.

Linda Stodola, who lives on the first block of West Ridge Road, said police weren't telling residents what was going on.

"They won't tell us anything," Stodola said. "There's something at the end of the block, close to the school."

The street had been closed, she said, and residents were told if they left the area, they wouldn't be able to come back until the police action was over. Stodola opted to stay home.

"They haven't said leave your house," she said. "It's like there are G.I. Joes out there. It's kind of strange."

Residents also hadn't been told to stay inside, although police were recommending it, Stodola said.

"There are a lot of people walking around, wondering what's going on," she said.

Chicago Suburban