On the afternoon of December 13, 2025, deputies and the Harvard Fire Protection District responded to a welfare check at a rural residence on the 4500 block of Island Road near Harvard, Illinois. Inside the home they found 65-year-old Italian-born Santina Perri deceased of a gunshot wound. Her husband, 75-year-old Silvano Perri, was also at the scene with serious injuries investigators determined were from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The couple primarily lived in Itasca but owned the Harvard property and had been married nearly 50 years; they were reported to be weeks away from their golden anniversary. Silvano Perri was airlifted to a Level 1 trauma center, and after his hospital release he was taken into custody and jailed on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his wife’s death. He appeared in court with visible facial injuries, reportedly whispering, and did not contest a petition to deny pretrial release; a judge ordered him detained pending trial. The motive for the shooting has not been reported.

Santina Perri’s obituary described her as a devoted matriarch who cherished her children and grandchildren. If anyone knew the Perris or has information about what happened that day, please come forward with what you can share.