Illinois Mom Killed by Husband in Backyard Murder-Suicide Days After Filing for Divorce

An Illinois mother and her husband were found dead in their backyard in what police are investigating as a possible murder-suicide, just a week after the woman filed for divorce. The victims, Kimberly Hurley, 56, and Robert Hurley, 58, were discovered outside their home in Sycamore early Friday morning.

Sycamore police issued a statement detailing the events. “Sycamore police officers and deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office located Kimberly Hurley, 56, and Robert Hurley, 58, both deceased outside the rear of the residence,” the statement read. “Both were shot, and a firearm was located on Robert Hurley.”

The couple, married for 22 years, shared two children. Court records revealed Kimberly filed for divorce on November 12, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the cause for the breakdown of their marriage. She was represented by Riley Oncken, the incoming DeKalb County State’s Attorney.

According to Sycamore Police Chief Jim Winters, investigators are treating the case as a domestic violence-related incident. “We’re still piecing together the crime scene, but we are investigating it as a domestic-related incident,” Winters said, adding that Robert had no prior arrests for domestic violence.

Preliminary evidence indicates that Robert legally owned the firearm found at the scene. “There were multiple shots [fired], but once we get back the autopsy results, then we’ll confirm the amount each one of them was shot,” Winters explained. “At this point, we believe that Robert was only shot once.”

The couple was found outside their home on Maplewood Drive, located just two blocks from Sycamore Middle School. Police promptly notified Sycamore School District 427 to ensure safety precautions were in place. “Within minutes of the call, we had contact with the school district to let them know it was an isolated incident, not a threat to the public, and it should not interfere with normal school operations,” Winters stated.

Autopsies were conducted by the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office, but results are pending. Police emphasized that there is no evidence of involvement from anyone other than the deceased and no threat to the community.

The investigation remains ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Chief Winters noted the tragedy’s devastating impact, stating, “This is a difficult situation for the family and community as we continue to gather more information.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.