Woman, 2 daughters found dead in apparent murder-suicide in Joliet

Police are investigating the deaths of a woman and her twin 6-year-old daughters, found dead Monday afternoon inside a southwest suburban home, as a double murder-suicide.

Officers responded at 3:08 p.m. to a death investigation at a home in the 400 block of North Reed Street, according to Joliet police. When officers arrived they were met by the children’s father, who directed them inside to the bodies of a woman and two small children.

The woman, 41-year-old Celisa Henning, and her daughters, Makayla and Addison Henning, were all pronounced dead at the scene at 6:36 p.m., the Will County coroner’s office said. Autopsies were scheduled for Tuesday.

The incident is being investigated as a double murder-suicide, authorities said.

“This is an ongoing investigation into a very tragic incident and at this time we are not prepared to comment on the cause of death,” Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton said in a statement.

Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said in the statement: “I’d like to extend my condolences to the family and friends.”