Round Lake Beach police and Round Lake firefighters and paramedics responded just before 1:40 p.m. Monday, June 13, 2022 to the block of 200 East Camden Lane in Round Lake Beach, where police discovered a homicide scene involving three young children that were found unresponsive by their mother.
The children’s father, Jason E. Karels has been charged with three counts of First Degree Murder, accused of killing his 5 year-old son, his 3 year-old daughter, and his 2 year-old son by drowning them. The children’s mother had gone to her estranged husband’s house to pick up her children for a doctor’s appointment when she found all three children unresponsive in an upstairs bedroom. The preliminary cause of death of each child is consistent with drowning, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
Round Lake Beach police released the identity of the suspect who is accused of killing his 5 year-old son, his 3 year-old daughter, and his 2 year-old son, as Jason E. Karels. YouTube Tips ⓘ
Suspect Jason Karels was spotted about 4:21 p.m. on I-57 southbound near 115th Street driving a maroon 2010 Nissan Maxima. Karels continued to I-80 WEST and was driving on the inside shoulder, using all lanes, and was also driving on the outside shoulder. The suspect crashed through a guardrail on I-80 WEST, and then crashed near Water Street and Duncan Street in Joliet — a location that is about half way between Chicago Street and the Des Plaines River.
Karels remained in his vehicle, which crashed and rolled over in an area of woods or trees near Water Street and Duncan Street in Joliet. Firefighters and paramedics were immediately called to the scene. While being extricated, Karels made statements to police officers, who were wearing bodycams, indicating he was responsible for the deaths of the children at the Round Lake Beach home. Karels also said he attempted to commit suicide several times after the deaths of the children, but was unsuccessful during the attempts.
The Round Lake Beach homicide suspect, Jason E. Karels, was in custody by 4:49 p.m. He transported by paramedics to a local hospital in the Joliet area, and then transferred in custody to Lake County Jail.
Round Lake Beach police are investigating a homicide after three people were found dead inside a home on E. Camden Lane Monday. https://t.co/Z2C8eruPxJ
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) June 13, 2022
Three people were found dead in a house in Round Lake Beach after a well-being check this afternoon. Learn the latest about the investigation at https://t.co/vhbRxCcLib pic.twitter.com/1KUhTNzXL5
— Kris Habermehl (@KrisHabermehl) June 13, 2022
Police in Round Lake Beach have gathered at a home in the 200 block of Camden Lane after being called to the address around 1:40 pm. Lake County Major Crimes investigators have been summoned. No specifics yet on what was found here. Updates at https://t.co/vhbRxCcLib pic.twitter.com/xY1AydDoHV
— Kris Habermehl (@KrisHabermehl) June 13, 2022
Illinois State Police pursuit of suspect wanted in connection with #RoundLakeBeach triple homicide ended in a crash in Joliet- accd to sources. #SkyCam9 over the scene near I-80 and the Des Plaines River bridge. Car came to a stop near Duncan and Water St in Joliet. pic.twitter.com/Aa7KTikOgb
— Shannon Halligan (@ShanHalligan) June 13, 2022
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Police Statement Wednesday, June 14, 2022 at 2:05 p.m.