Father of Michigan woman killed with 6 children in alleged murder-suicide shares emotional statement
A man whose son-in-law killed his daughter and six grandchildren before taking his own life is pleading with onlookers to stop speculating.
Amanda 'Mandy' Karolkiewicz was found dead at her home in Grand Haven Township, Michigan, on 24 July, having been fatally shot.
The bodies of her six children - Keegan, Bennett, Caroline, Ella, Smith and Teddy, who were aged between five and 15 years old - were also discovered at the property with gunshot wounds.
The family had been slaughtered by Mandy's husband, and the father and the six children, Kristopher Karolkiewicz. Four of the couple's children were biologically theirs, while two had been adopted.
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According to law enforcement officials, following the attack, Kristopher, 47, started a fire at his home, which killed the family's numerous pets, after which he fatally shot himself.
Firefighters called to tackle the blaze after neighbours reported the smell of smoke found the six bodies inside.
Gary Anderson, Mandy's father, has since told the press he's struggling to come to terms with his almighty loss.
Speaking to The Detroit News outside his Grand Oak home this weekend, Gary tearily said: "I love my daughter Mandy, and I loved those six children. In a way, I still love Kris."
Reflecting on Kristopher's motivations, Gary also claimed he can't wrap his head around 'the why'.
"I'm sure that will come out in the future," he continued. "I have no idea why. Speculation is what I have a disdain for.
"It's very clear that he did what he did."
Investigating officers have also confirmed they're yet to determine Kristopher's intentions behind the killings.
"The manner of death for Amanda and the six children was ruled homicide," Ottawa County Sheriff’s Captain Jacob Sparks said. "The manner of death for Kristopher has been ruled suicide."
He added: "This is an unspeakable tragedy that we may never completely understand why it happened, but we’ll do our best to find the answers and to honour the memory of those victims."
Mandy's mother and stepfather, Becky and Steve Lawwill, also told Local 4: "Our daughter Mandy was a kind and devoted soul who loved her family and her students. We treasured every moment we had with her and her six children, and words cannot adequately express our devastation."
They added: "We pray for God’s peace and comfort as we grieve their deaths and honour their lives. We ask that the media give our family space in the weeks and months ahead, and that they respect the privacy of all who loved Mandy and the children."
Steve also shared a family photo on social media, captioned: "So grateful for the joy they brought into our life. We are just so shattered."
A statement shared by the American Heart Association confirmed that Kristopher had served as national vice president of sales and marketing from September 2023 until early July, when his 'employment ended'.
A company spokesperson continued: "As an organisation with professional staff who are dedicated to helping others, we are devastated by the news out of Grand Haven, and our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragedy."
Rhianna Benson