Michael Osborne, 59, of Waukegan, Illinois, was found dead at his home in the 300 block of Helmholz Avenue on September 5, 2023. First responders from the Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department arrived about 10:45 a.m. for a death investigation. Because Osborne had serious health problems and had recently been discharged from the hospital, police initially believed he had died after an accidental fall and reported a head injury consistent with hitting the corner of a dresser.

That initial assessment changed after a funeral home taking possession of the body discovered what turned out to be a gunshot wound behind Osborne’s ear. The Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified on September 6; an examination confirmed death by a gunshot wound to the head. Detectives returned to the residence to conduct a more thorough investigation. Family and friends say they entered the room before the wound was found, believing the death accidental, and worry they may have inadvertently disturbed evidence. The Waukegan Police Department had not released information about the case as of the report.

Did anyone in the community see or hear anything in that neighborhood around September 5 that could help explain how a shot entered the bedroom window?