Crews on Friday were called to fight a fire at a home, but soon found eight bodies: two adults and six children.
The two adults have been identified by Ottawa County Sheriff's Captain Jake Sparks as Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, of Grand Haven and his wife Amanda Karolkiewicz, 39, also of Grand Haven.
Police are not naming the six children killed, but said they were four boys, aged 15, 12, 11 and 5, and two 11-year-old girls.The four boys were biological children and the two girls were adopted children, according to the sheriff's office, which said all six were found in their bedrooms.
Amanda Karolkiewicz and the six children died by gunshot wounds. Their deaths have been ruled homicides, deputies said.Kristopher Karolkiewicz's death has been ruled a suicide, according to the sheriff's office.
Authorities believe the murders may have begun late Thursday night and continued into early Friday morning.The sheriff's office did not find any sign of a struggle, and said no one aside from Kristopher fired the handgun used in the killings.
Additionally, several dogs and at least one cat died in the fire, according to the sheriff's office.More: Neighbors grieve for family of 8 found dead in Grand Haven Township
Investigators believe the fire was intentionally set after the murders on the first floor as well as the basement, where most of the damage was found, deputies said.
The home did not have a history of police calls, and there have been no signs of struggle found at the scene so far, according to the sheriff's office.
No suspects are outstanding at this time. The sheriff's office is asking the community to only reach out to them if they have information related to the case and to not share opinions or speculation.
"This is far more than a news story," Sparks said. "The situation personally impacts dozens, if not hundreds of people in the county. Our hearts go out to those families."
In a statement, Steve and Becky Lawwill, Amanda's parents, called their daughter a kind and devoted soul who loved her family and students.
"We treasured every moment we had with her and her six children, and words cannot adequately express our devastation," they said. "We pray for God’s peace and comfort as we grieve their deaths and honor 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."
"Her parents are beyond words," Amanda's cousin, Emily Jones, said. "Devastated."
Jones said Amanda loved her kids and traveling, and had recently earned a master's degree in education.She taught at Grand Haven Area Public Schools, who are now providing counseling support for staff and students.
"If there was ever a person who truly epitomized light in the room, it was Mandy," she said.
Kristopher Karolkiewicz was employed at the American Heart Association, whose media relations team released this statement:
“The American Heart Association national headquarters is aware of that one of its former staff members was among those who perished under tragic circumstances Friday in a western Michigan home.
Kristopher Karolkiewicz was an employee of the American Heart Association from September of 2023 until earlier this month, July 2026, when his employment ended.
During his time with our organization, he served as a national vice president of sales and marketing, supporting the division of the Heart Association responsible for CPR and first aid training and products. He worked remotely for the national headquarters operation from his home.
As an organization 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.”
Friends have left a memorial at the family's home with flowers, toys and goodbye messages, as police pledge a thorough investigation."We're trying to get answers for family," Sparks said. "We're trying to get answers for the community. We're trying to get answers for our own responders."
A majority of Americans believe the ongoing war with Iran has proven more difficult than initially anticipated by the United States administration, according to a new survey.
Public sentiment surrounding the conflict appeared largely unsettled. The survey showed that 58% of respondents felt uncertain about the situation, while 57% reported feelings of frustration. Moreover, 36% expressed pessimism, compared to just 19% who said they felt optimistic.
The findings also suggested limited confidence in the US position, with only 22% of respondents believing Iran currently held the advantage in the conflict. The results highlighted growing public concern and unease as the conflict continues without a clear resolution.