News conference gives facts, no rationale for GH Twp. husband, father of 6 to murder his family

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — Seven gunshots, at least, and then one more — the final, self-inflicted shot took the life of 47-year-old Kristopher Karolkiewicz, a father of six and husband to Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, leaving a stunned community in the aftermath.

Just like that, authorities recounted, Kristopher wiped out his entire family — four baby-faced boys, two darling adopted girls, and their mother — gone. Never to walk out of that home again — the children found lying in their beds, where they laid their young heads for the last time. 

The family pets — overcome by smoke inhalation from fire within the home set by Kristopher before he took his own life, in what authorities say was his manic attempt to set the home ablaze.  

And for what? What was worth that magnitude of loss? 

As of Monday, July 27, authorities said they had very few answers regarding a motive, and were aware of social media hearsay posted by armchair sleuths disclosing personal information about the couple and speculating about their relationship. 

Whether any of that fueled the July 24 incident remains unknown. But on Monday, authorities did their best to disclose what they do know.

Facts of the case released by authorities

The fire was set after the mother and children were already dead, according to police. 

When emergency crews were called to the 14900 block of Riverside Trail on July 24, they were responding to reports of smoke. What they found inside was the deadliest domestic tragedy in Ottawa County in recent history.

At Monday’s news conference, Capt. Jake Sparks of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office laid out the timeline established by forensic autopsies completed over the weekend. 

Read More: Police: Father killed wife, 6 children before setting Grand Haven Township home on fire

All eight victims died from gunshot wounds before the fire was ignited. The medical examiner ruled the deaths of Amanda and the six children as homicides. The children were four boys, ages 15, 12, 11, and 5, and two 11-year-old girls. The boys were biological; the girls, adopted. Authorities are not releasing their names. 

Friends and family, however, have publicly named the children: Keegan, Bennett, Teddy, Smith, Caroline and Ella.

Sparks fielded numerous questions from the media on Monday, but wasn’t able to answer all of them. 

"This is far more than a news story," Sparks said, reading a statement on behalf of Sheriff Eric DeBoer. "This situation personally impacts dozens, if not hundreds, of people in the county. Our hearts go out to those families, the neighbors, the co-workers, the teachers, the students of Grand Haven Public Schools, and the friends of the victims. 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 honor the memory of those victims."

Investigators think the violence unfolded Thursday night or in the early morning hours Friday. Neighbors noticed the smell of smoke early that morning, though visible smoke was not reported until 11:42 a.m. 

Curiously, neighbors did not report hearing gunshots. Authorities were not immediately able to explain the reason for that. 

Firefighters entered the house and found the victims in bedrooms on both the main floor and the lower level.

Investigators with the Michigan State Police determined the fire was set intentionally in several spots across both floors. 

Deputies recovered a registered handgun at the scene.

Investigators have found no indication that anyone else fired the gun, nor did they see signs of a physical struggle, Sparks said.

Though the basement was heavily damaged, detectives collected paper records and documents from the home. They are reviewing them to see if Kristopher left behind any written notes or clues about his motivation for the shootings.

"There was a lot of documentation that we seized from the scene, and we're going to go over it,” Sparks said. 

Law enforcement had no prior 911 calls to the address. Detectives are examining the family's personal and professional lives for potential stresses or triggers, but Sparks said no motive has been identified.

"We're fact finders," Sparks said. "We look for facts. Sometimes people like to reach out with … their opinions on things, and that's not as helpful as people might think at times. ... If they have some fact-based past or history or knowledge of this couple, this family that they think should be helpful, I encourage them to reach out."

Because Karolkiewicz died at the scene, there will be no criminal proceedings. Sparks said that does not change how the department approaches the case.

"There's no prosecution that takes place when the suspect is also deceased," Sparks said. "But it doesn't change the fact that we're trying to get answers for the family. We're trying to get answers for the community. We're trying to get answers for our own responders.”

Toxicology results are not yet available, Sparks said Monday. 

The sheriff’s office is working alongside Grand Haven Area Public Schools, where deputies serve as school resource officers, to provide counseling and support services.

Family members of the victims have started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs as well as to establish scholarships in the children's names.

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org. Sarah Leach is the executive editor of the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at sleach@ottawanewsnetwork.org. Follow her on Twitter @ONNLeach.