Marisa Welz Dister, a 46-year-old resident of Wheeling, Illinois, tragically lost her life in a murder-suicide incident on April 11, 2024. The event occurred at the home she shared with her boyfriend, Russell O’Connor, 44, on the 300 block of 12th Street in Wheeling.
The bodies of Marisa Dister and Russell O’Connor were discovered by a friend, Bill Napp, who had gone to check on Marisa after she failed to show up for her 4 p.m.
shift at the Old Munich Tavern & Grill, where she worked as a bartender. Napp found the front door unlocked, searched the house, and discovered the bodies in a hallway. He immediately called 911 after finding the bodies.
According to the Wheeling Police Department and the Cook County medical examiner’s office, Russell O’Connor shot Marisa Dister before turning the gun on himself. A gun was found near the bodies at the scene. The exact timing of the incident is still under investigation, but it is clear that the couple had a history of domestic issues, with police having been called to their home previously, most recently around Christmas.
Marisa Dister and Russell O’Connor had a tumultuous relationship, having broken up and reconciled several times. Despite their strained relationship, they were described by neighbors and friends as having a deep emotional connection. O’Connor had recently posted a photo on his Facebook page celebrating their 14th anniversary and referring to Marisa as "my true love".
Marisa Dister is remembered by her friends and community as a kind, funny, and beautiful mother. She had two grown daughters, Haley and Ella, who did not live with her and O’Connor. In the aftermath of her death, friends have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for her daughters, which has already surpassed $14,000 of its $20,000 goal as of April 18, 2024.
The incident has been confirmed as a murder-suicide, and the Wheeling Police Department has stated that there is no reason to believe there is a greater threat to the public. The community is mourning the loss of Marisa Dister, with many expressing their grief and memories of her on social media.
