GRAND HAVEN TWP. — Relatives and local property records have confirmed the identities of eight family members found dead after a shooting and house fire in Grand Haven Township.
They are couple Kris and Amanda Karolkiewicz (47 and 39) and children Keegan, Bennett, Caroline, Ella, Smith and Teddy (ranging in age from 5 to 15).
Firefighters responded to the family’s home on Riverside Trail in Grand Haven Township the morning of July 24. By that time, there was heavy smoke pouring from the building. All eight family members were found dead inside, some with gunshot wounds, according to Capt. Jake Sparks with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators are still determining what, exactly, happened July 24 — including the possibility of a murder-suicide. They have yet to formally identify the victims.
Amanda was a substitute teacher at Grand Haven Area Public Schools. According to an author biography published in 2023 under the name Mandy Karol, the family also had four dogs, a cat and a turtle.
“Her passions include special needs and trauma-informed advocacy, mindfulness, reading, dining out, traveling, and exploring the Lake Michigan shoreline,” the biography, posted with the children’s book “The Magical Mantra: A Tiny Book about Self-Talk,” reads.
“Her days are loud and busy but everything she could hope for. After spending years caretaking for others, she finally found herself returning to her childhood passion of writing. Mandy learned of her inherent goodness too late in life and now writes for children, herself, and inner children everywhere.”
The lives of the family are dotted across the social media pages of the couple and several of their children, including a video posted on YouTube by Ella showing her younger siblings how to play basketball. According to her profile on TikTok, Amanda had recently traveled to Hangzhou, China, with daughters Ella and Caroline.
The first video posted to her profile in May 2022 is captioned: “My kids are worth more than your guns.” She also had a blog for several years, 2011 to 2016, that provided “a peek into the lives of our fantastic little family” at mandysmarkblog.blogspot.com.
“It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge reports of a devastating incident (earlier today) involving the loss of multiple lives, including several school-aged children,” Superintendent Kristin Perkowski of Grand Haven Area Public Schools wrote in a statement issued July 24.
“… Regardless of the details that may emerge, this is a devastating incident and a tragic loss for our community.”
Amanda was praised by the district on social media in January for her work as a substitute teacher at Peach Plains Elementary School.
“Mandy goes above and beyond for students, especially when they’re having a hard day, responding with empathy, patience and care,” the post read. “She pours her heart into her work, is always willing to help wherever needed.”
The family was initially identified by loved ones on social media, including Amanda’s stepfather Steve Lawwill.
“So grateful for the joy they brought into our life,” he wrote. “We are just so shattered.”
Lawwill told The Sentinel the couple is waiting for further details from the Ottawa County Medical Examiner.
Amanda’s sister, Molly Cessna, also posted to Facebook.
“Everything’s just blurry,” she wrote. “Please continue to pray, friends. Please continue to pray as we try and piece everything together. Our hearts are utterly shattered. Tragic doesn’t even touch it.”
OCSO doesn’t have a record of previous calls to the home, according to Sparks.
“This is a tragic event no matter how you slice it,” he said.
— USA TODAY reporter Dinah Pulver contributed to this report. Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Everything we know about Kris and Amanda Karolkiewicz of Grand Haven
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
