Carlyle Illinois police responded to a welfare check shortly after 8 a.m. on Tuesday March 3, 2026 at a residence in the 2100 block of Fairfax Street where 41-year-old Sadie L. Tull was discovered deceased inside her home.
The call came in as a routine concern for the well being of the homeowner prompting officers to enter the property and find Tull with a single gunshot wound to the head leading to an immediate activation of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis for what was initially treated as a homicide investigation.
Sadie L. Tull operated a dog grooming business directly out of her Fairfax Street home where she also pursued her passion as an independent artist creating works that reflected her love for animals and community life. Neighbors and clients described her as a familiar and caring presence in Carlyle someone who welcomed pets and their owners into her space with warmth and professionalism.
Inside the residence investigators also found Tull’s two beloved dogs fatally shot alongside her creating an especially heartbreaking scene that underscored the personal nature of the tragedy. The pets were part of her everyday life and business with the grooming salon serving as a hub for local animal lovers. This detail quickly spread through the community amplifying the shock and sorrow among those who knew Sadie as both a professional groomer and a devoted pet parent in her Carlyle home.
The Major Case Squad launched an intensive four day effort involving 36 investigators from multiple agencies who pursued more than 90 leads and logged over 1000 man hours while consulting experts including a fire science analyst and an anthropology consultant who specializes in burned human remains.
Despite the thorough work no persons of interest have been identified and authorities have stated there is no believed threat to Carlyle residents at this time. As of Friday March 6 the squad suspended the active investigation pending the return of laboratory results and search warrant returns with the case remaining open should new evidence emerge from the Fairfax Street residence.
A GoFundMe campaign titled Honoring Sadie Tull’s Memory was quickly established by loved ones to cover funeral and memorial expenses noting that Sadie and her two dogs were taken far too soon by an unknown assailant. The fundraiser has drawn support from across Clinton County and beyond as friends family and clients remember Tull for her independent spirit artistic talent and dedication to the pets she cared for in her home based salon.
Carlyle police and the Major Case Squad continue to welcome any information from the public regarding Sadie Tull’s final days or any activity around the 2100 block of Fairfax Street in the time leading up to March 3. Tips can be submitted anonymously through official channels as the investigation pauses for forensic processing.
The suspension has brought a measure of reassurance to residents while the fundraiser offers a way for the community to rally around Tull’s memory and support her family during this difficult period in Carlyle Illinois.
