In a quiet neighborhood in unincorporated Griffith, Indiana, the afternoon of March 15, 2024, was shattered by the sound of gunfire, leaving three men dead in what investigators believe may have been a murder-suicide. One of the victims was 63-year-old Robert 'Bob' George Secviar, a resident of the home where the tragic events unfolded.
Police were called to the house in the 600 block of Colfax Street, where they discovered three men with gunshot wounds.
Inside the home, Robert Secviar and another man, 69-year-old Marshall Lawson Jr. of Hammond, were found deceased. A third man, 67-year-old John G. Stefanich of Highland, was found in critical condition and was transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The Lake County Coroner's Office subsequently ruled the deaths of both Secviar and Lawson as homicides. The manner of death for Stefanich was listed as pending as the investigation continued.
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots, with one resident recalling seeing a man standing over another in the driveway before going back inside the house, followed by another gunshot. This witness immediately called 911. Those who knew the residents of the home described them as quiet and respectable people who didn't cause any trouble, adding to the shock and confusion in the aftermath of the violent incident.
As of the initial reports, law enforcement had not detailed the specific circumstances that led to the shooting or identified a primary suspect. The investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Department is ongoing, exploring the possibility that the incident was a murder-suicide. No arrests have been announced in connection with the deaths of Robert Secviar and Marshall Lawson Jr.
