GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The family found dead inside a Grand Haven Township home last week all died by being shot, investigators revealed on Monday.
The deaths of the six children and woman, identified as Amanda Karolkiewicz, 39, were ruled homicides, said the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. The man, 47-year-old Kristopher Karolkiewicz, took his own life, determined detectives.
The family of eight was found on Friday, July 24, inside their home on Riverside Trail when firefighters responded to calls of smoke coming from the house.
Investigators initially said some of the people had been shot, but on Monday the sheriff's office said all eight had gunshot wounds.
Detectives believe Kristopher shot and killed his wife and six children, ages 5 to 15, before starting several fires throughout the home. How those fires were started remains under investigation by the Michigan State Police arson investigators, said the sheriff's office.
The names of the six children were not released by investigators, but they said four of the children were the Karolkiewicz's biological offspring; the other two were adopted. Four of the children were boys, ages 15, 12, 11, and 5; the two girls were both 11 years old.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools announced it would be providing support for students and staff impacted by the family's deaths.
All of the family's pets died because of smoke from the fires.
No other suspects are believed to be involved in the situation, said the sheriff's office.
Anyone with information on the shootings is encouraged to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office at (616) 738-4000. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Silent Observer at (877) 88-SILENT.
