Coroner's inquest reveals more details of Warrensburg murder

MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) - More details emerged on Thursday during the Macon County Coroner's Inquest into the death of a Warrensburg mother.

Tabitha Lourash died Thanksgiving eve 2022 inside her Warrensburg home. According to the Macon County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to Durfee St. for a domestic violence incident. While deputies were still headed there, they learned multiple shots had been fired from inside the home.

When they arrived, they found 57-year-old Jeffrey Lourash in the living room with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was still alive.

His wife, 41-year-old Tabitha Lourash, was in the kitchen. She had been shot multiple times and did not survive.

During Thursday's coroner's inquest, the lead Macon County Sheriff's Department investigator told the jury that detectives found two firearms inside the home. One of the firearms was found by Tabitha, the other by Jeffrey.

The investigator detailed that Tabitha and Jeffrey, who was intoxicated, were in an argument. The investigator told the jury that part of audio from the couple's argument was recorded on Tabitha's phone that was placed inside a leather bag across her body.

The investigator said in the audio they could hear Jeffrey ask Tabitha if "they are coming" and "it's over, it's over". The audio recording captured Tabitha telling her husband "Don't do this." Then gunshots can be heard.

The investigator said that Tabitha had been shot 12 times, while Jeffrey had one gun shot wound to his chin, where the bullet exited his nose.

Two guns were found inside the house. Investigators said they determined that Tabitha had fired one round from the gun she had, but it did not hit Jeffrey.

The couple's four children were inside the house when the argument started. They had escaped the home through second story windows and ran to different neighbors' homes for help.

Deputies said they learned Jeffrey Lourash and his 17-year-old son had been in a physical argument which prompted the initial 911 call.

The teen ran upstairs, they said, before hearing gunshots coming from downstairs. He directed his younger siblings, ages 11, 13, and 15, to escape through the window.

On Nov. 28, 2022, Jeffrey was formally arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. He was officially booked into the Macon County Jail on Dec. 3, 2022.

The coroner's jury on Thursday ruled Tabitha's death a homicide.

Tabitha's family was in Thursday's inquest and told the jury, "She was a caring loving mom."

Jeffrey plead not guilty on Dec. 21. His next court hearing is scheduled for February 2.