Couple dead in murder-suicide at Niles home

A woman fatally shot a man before turning the gun on herself Wednesday afternoon at their home in north suburban Niles.

A woman came to check on her parents about 4:13 p.m. at their home in the 8700 block of West Madison Street in Niles and found 82-year-old Robert L. Wodka and 80-year-old Maryann G. Wodka dead in the basement, according to Niles police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

They each died from a single gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner’s office found. Autopsies Thursday ruled Robert Wodka’s death a homicide and Maryann Wodka’s death a suicide.

A handgun was found near the bodies and a note was located inside the home, police said.