Karen Zincke, 84, a White/Caucasian female, was found dead alongside her 57-year-old son, David Zincke, inside his apartment in the 1000 block of North Sterling Avenue in Palatine, Illinois, on Friday night, October 24, 2025. Police were initially dispatched around 9:26 p.m. for an ambulance assist and discovered both victims deceased. Authorities reported that each had apparent gunshot wounds and that a firearm was recovered at the scene. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office was tasked with determining the official cause and manner of death, with toxicology pending, and investigators emphasized there was no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.
In the days that followed, Palatine police characterized the case as an active investigation and did not release further details about what may have happened inside the apartment that evening. Local reports reiterated that the deaths appeared to be the result of gunfire and that the firearm's discovery was central to the inquiry while authorities awaited the medical examiner's findings. Community listings and victim memorial pages identified Karen by name, age, and date and place of death, noting that David also died in the incident.
As of the latest reporting, police had not announced any arrests, nor had they identified or sought any suspects connected to the deaths. Officials continued to stress that there was no broader risk to residents, suggesting investigators did not believe an at-large assailant posed a danger to the community. The investigation remained open with no charges filed.
