Steve Salinas stood outside his sister’s and brother-in-law’s house Monday afternoon as a cleaning crew worked to scrub away the nightmare inside.
More Top Picks Best Socket Sets For Mechanics
A neighbor walked over to offer him condolences over the loss of the two – Olga and John Meeks – as well as his nephew, Eric Meeks.
Merrillville Chief of Police Joseph Petruch said Eric Meeks, 34, killed his parents, then killed himself.
“It’s a murder-suicide. The weapon was recovered at the scene,” he said.
Salinas said the shootings had to have happened sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning. Olga Meeks, 65, was to attend a family gathering Saturday afternoon, and one of their daughters was waiting for her to pick her up.
When she couldn’t get ahold of Olga Meeks, the rest of Salinas’ family members started frantically trying to reach her, Salinas said. Salinas said the daughter called the Merrillville Police Department Sunday evening to conduct a welfare check.
They found the three in the Meeks’ house in the 3600 block of W. 79th Ave., shot to death, according to to the Lake County Coroner’s’ office.
George Ross, club manager at Gary Sportsman’s Club in Crown Point, said Eric Meeks was working there Friday when he apparently learned of something going on at his parents’ house.
“So he left. That was the last we heard of him,” Ross said.
He said Eric Meeks worked for a company that was in charge of the kitchen at the club and was not an employee of the club itself. He described Eric Meeks as a very quiet person who didn’t talk much.
Salinas, of Hobart, said their families were “very tight,” and Olga and John Meeks, 66, loved their children more than anything.
“My sister came over every weekend to visit our parents. She was a beautiful lady with an open, big heart. Just wonderful, wonderful,” Salinas said, fighting back tears. “And my brother-in-law was a hard-working man for his family.”
There had been some talk that Eric Meeks had had “problems” at some point, but they didn’t appear out of the ordinary, Salinas said. Neither Olga nor John had ever talked about it much, he said.
The neighbor, Jackie Vanvleet, 52, had known John Meeks since he’d moved into the neighborhood when she was 16. They were never particularly close since the family kept to themselves, she said, but they were friendly with each other, giving each other a helping hand when needed.
“This is really shocking,” she said. “We never heard any arguing, and we definitely didn’t hear anything like gunshots this weekend. John was always respectful and kept to himself, never got into anyone’s business. He worked for NIPSCO and would work on solar panels in the garage. I’m going to miss him as a neighbor.”
John and Olga Meeks were described Monday as awesome parents and neighbors who would do anything for their children.
Petruch said the deaths apparently stemmed from a domestic incident.
He said police were called to the house once in 2013, but he knew of no other incidents there. He said Eric Meeks, who had an apartment in Hobart, had no other police record that he’s aware of.
Petruch said it appears that John Meeks, whose body was found in the garage, was shot first. Eric Meeks was found lying next to his mother on the upstairs floor of the house.
The Merrillville Community School Corp. said in a prepared statement that it has lost a beloved colleague in Olga Meeks, who worked for the school corporation as a substitute teacher, then as a Title 1 reading aide at Miller Elementary School in Merrillville for the last eight years.
“Olga Meeks was a true asset to the Miller family. Her love for the students and staff was evident the moment she walked through the doors. She was always willing and eager to do whatever was needed at any time. She will be dearly missed by us all,” Miller Principal Jennifer Griffin said,
Social workers and counselors will be available all week to help students and staff deal with their grieving process, the school corporation stated.
Gary Community School Corp. spokeswoman Charmella Greer said Olga Meeks was a substitute teacher for the district, but hadn’t worked there since 2004.
Diane Jones said she had been a neighbor of the Meeks for about 20 years, when Jones moved to the 3600 block of 79th Avenue near the Meeks family.
More Top Picks What Is The 20 20 20 Rule And Does It Actually Work
“They were awesome people. They would do anything for their children. You couldn’t have better neighbors,” Jones said.
“I’m just broken up about this. “It seems like a nightmare,” Jones said. “Both will be very, very much missed.”
She said in addition to Eric, the Meeks had two daughters, both of whom live out of state.
Calls to the Meeks daughters were not returned Monday.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Staff writer Carole Carlson and freelance reporter Michelle L. Quinn contributed.