A young couple from Wisconsin was tragically found dead inside a car in northern Illinois on October 6, just days before they were set to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Middle-school sweethearts. Rachel and Brandon Dumovich’s love story began long before their wedding day.

The couple met as classmates in middle school. Rachel shared on their wedding page on The Knot that she first caught Brandon’s attention by stealing cologne from his locker and running away with it.

They stayed friends for 15 years before reconnecting and beginning to date in 2022. Brandon proposed in the summer of 2023 at Big Cedar Lake in Slinger, Wisconsin — a place that holds special meaning for Rachel and her family. They exchanged vows on October 12, 2024, surrounded by friends and family. Rachel expressed her excitement for their future together, writing, “We can’t wait to share…