Woman, 81, found dead in Chicago-area home after son barricades himself, police say

VERNON HILLS, Ill. - The decomposing body of an 81-year-old woman was found inside a north suburban home on Friday while her son barricaded himself in the home for hours.

What we know:

Officers were calledAT 10:15 a.m. to the 500 block of Saddlebrook Lane in Vernon Hills for a well-being check, according to the Vernon Hills Police Department.

Responding officers learned that someone had died inside the home. Police briefly spoke with a man inside the home, but he stopped communicating and barricaded himself inside, police said.

Police called in SWAT officers from the Illinois State Police and Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) to "contain the situation."

Officers later entered the home and found the decomposing body of the woman, identified as Mary Barry, on the floor of a bedroom. Police said she had not been heard from for several weeks and lived with her disabled 50-year-old son.

Her son remained barricaded for several hours before being arrested by SWAT officers and then being turned over to Vernon Hills police.

The man appeared uninjured and was medically evaluated at an area hospital.

Autopsy results:

The Lake County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy Monday and determined Barry died of natural causes.

The coroner’s office said her son is believed to have failed to recognize his mother’s death because of a medical condition.

He is receiving treatment at an area hospital, and no criminal charges are expected.