Feb. 09--A father, mother and their teenage son were found dead in their Oak Forest home Monday night, an apparent murder-suicide, according to police in the southwest suburb.
The bodies of David Joost, 54, Margaret O'Leary-Joost, 55, and Daniel Joost, 18, were discovered in the house in the 6600 block of Courtney Avenue about 8 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office. All lived in the house.
O'Leary-Joost had called in sick to work at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn on Friday, police said. When she didn't show up to work Monday, a co-worker went to check on her and found what looked like blood coming from the garage door, police said.
Officers were called to the home and forced their way in, the release said. They found O'Leary-Joost and Daniel Joost unresponsive in their beds, police said. They found David Joost hanging in the garage, his wrists cut, police said.
Ligature marks were found around O'Leary-Joost and her son's throats, according to Oak Forest police Chief Gregory Anderson.
"Apparently, they had been strangled," he said.
According to the release, a car in the garage was out of gas and not running.
The causes of their deaths have not officially been determined, police said.
David Joost recently had lost his job in Orland Park and was struggling financially, according to the release. Police did not know the extent of the family's financial troubles, Anderson said.
"Obviously, there is something going on when something this gruesome, this horrific happens," Anderson said.
Margaret O'Leary-Joost was a hospital crisis worker. Daniel Joost had autism and was attending a local transition program.
The couple also had a daughter, 20, who is a student at Millikin University, police said. She was notified of the deaths by police.
"We can't imagine what she's got to be going through," Anderson said.
There was no sign of forced entry into the house, police said.
The investigation is still in preliminary stages. Investigators will be talking to friends, family and co-workers to gather more information.
The investigators made a positive identification through state records.
Police said there was no history of domestic violence or other police calls to the house.
Police believe the three family members were killed Friday or early Saturday. No suicide note was found. No other disturbance in the home was found that would indicate any other kind of trouble or crime, Anderson said.
Since 2010, Oak Forest has had only two other murders before this one.
Advocate Christ Medical Center issued a statement Tuesday morning about O'Leary-Joost: "Margaret O'Leary-Joost was a wonderful colleague and cherished member of the Advocate Christ Medical Center family. The leadership and compassion she provided to patients and colleagues every day will be deeply missed. We continue to hold her loved ones in our thoughts and prayers."
Neighbors said they were shocked to hear about the horrific fate of the Joost family after seeing police cars parked out front of their home all night.
Margaret O'Leary-Joost was "always happy and nice," next-door neighbor Mary O'Malley said. The couple's son usually stayed inside and used the family computer, she said.
O'Malley said she believes the family had endured financial problems for years. Several years ago, David Joost told her he was unable to buy a canoe that he had wanted to get for his wife as a Christmas present.
"He seemed like a regular neighbor," said another neighbor, Rich Butkus. "I had never suspected anything."
Butkus said he's known the Joost family since they moved into the house in 2000. The two families' children used to play together.
"Behind closed doors, you don't know what happens," he said.
The Joosts are members of the Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park. Church Pastor Dave Peters remembers David Joost as being a strong soloist in the choir and a great musical talent, a trait that he had passed down to their surviving daughter.
David Joost was the most visible member of the family at the church, Peters said.
"His wife was around for worship and times of gathering, but she was more connected to career and to home, as a lot of good moms are," Peters said.
Daniel Joost would spend time with several other autistic children who were members of the congregation.
David Joost was "trying to do things always with his son in mind" as he struggled financially, Peter said.
Peters said family members have not yet contacted the church about funeral services.
David Joost worked from home as an IT professional and picked up various contracts over the years. A message left on Tuesday with one of his previous employers was not immediately returned.
Police said there was no evidence that David Joost planned the murders ahead of time.
Megan Crepeau is a Tribune reporter. Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
