Update: Eight Found Dead in Grand Haven, MI, House Fire Died of Gunshot Wounds
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GRAND HAVEN TWP. MI – A man shot and killed his wife and their six children before fatally shooting himself, an Ottawa County sheriff’s captain said Monday, July 27.
The deceased couple are Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, 39, and Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47.
Their bodies were found Friday, July 24, inside their burning house.
The father died by suicide after killing the others.
The Sheriff’s Office did not identify the children but said they are four boys, ages 15, 12, 11 and 5, and two girls, both 11.
“The cause of death for all subjects has been ruled gunshot wounds and the manner of death for Amanda and the children has been ruled homicide,” sheriff’s Capt. Jacob Sparks said.
“The manner of death for Kristopher has been ruled suicide.”
State police arson investigators continue to look at the cause and origin of the fire but preliminary reports showed that fire was set at numerous areas inside the house.
Their bodies were discovered just before noon on Friday on Riverside Trail near Grand River’s Millhouse Bayou in Grand Haven Township. Firefighters earlier searched for the source of smoke reported in the area but found no signs of a house fire.
Later, they responded to a report of smoke coming from the front window of a house.
Neighbors were stunned by the losses. About 200 students, parents and community members gathered to honor the family on Sunday.
Mandy’s mother, Becky Lawwill, told MLive that her daughter “was an amazing mother. She loved her kids so much, so much, and Kris did too.”
“This is just such an ugly thing that has happened, all eight of them.”
Mandy Karolkiewicz was a substitute teacher and a paraprofessional at Grand Haven Area Public Schools.
“And everyone just loved her.”
The couple’s children went to Grand Haven schools, the Lawwills said.
Kris Karolkiewicz was a vice president in sales for the American Heart Association.
The couple’s children went to Grand Haven schools, the Lawwills said.
Kris and Mandy Karolkiewicz married in 2009. They had four biological children and adopted two more. Their youngest was set to begin kindergarten at Peach Plains Elementary School, where the mother worked.
The family’s pets all died in the fire.
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