Parents and six children found dead in burning Michigan home died of murder-suicide, as sheriff identifies who pulled the trigger

By EMMA RICHTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:43, 27 July 2026 | Updated: 18:58, 27 July 2026 The Michigan family who were found dead inside their burning home was killed in a murder-suicide, investigators said.  Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, his wife, Amanda 'Mandy' Karolkiewicz, 39, and their six children, ages five to 15, were found dead at their burning $750,000 home in Grand Haven Township on Friday morning. The incident was initially ruled 'suspicious' by officials after the victims were found to have suffered gunshot wounds before the flames took over the property.  On Monday, authorities said they now believe that Kristopher shot and killed his wife and their six kids before starting several fires throughout the home, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said.  It remains unclear how the fire started as Michigan State Police arson investigators continue to investigate, the sheriff's office stated.  Amanda and her children's deaths have been ruled a homicide, and Kristopher's has been ruled a suicide, deputies said.   Four of the six children were Kristopher's biological children. The other two were adopted by the couple.  None of the children has been named, but four of them were boys, aged 15, 12, 11, and five. Their twin daughters were 11-years-old, police said.  Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, his wife, Amanda 'Mandy' Karolkiewicz, 39, and their six children, ages five to 15, were found dead at their burning $750,000 home in Grand Haven Township on Friday morning The family's pets also died of smoke from the fires, Fox 17 reported. It is unclear how many there were.  The update comes just hours after it was revealed that the family was rocked by two tragedies before they died last week.  Amanda's parents, Becky and Steve Lawwill, lost a son, Allston Lawwill, six years ago to an accidental fentanyl overdose. Allston, 28, started using cocaine and opioids during the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly became addicted, WSYM-TV reported. Just months after, Allston was living in Lansing without his wife, Kassandra, and their three children. He was found dead on November 25, 2020, three days after he died and had his last known communication with his wife. Amanda and Allston also had a second 'baby brother' called Dillan, who died, according to a family fundraising page. Further details on that tragedy have not been shared. Following the death of her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, Becky called it 'such an ugly thing that has happened.'  Amanda and Kristopher were wed in 2009.  Their youngest child was about to begin kindergarten at Peach Plains Elementary, where Amanda was a teacher. The oldest, 15, was heading into high school and had recently begun driver's education.  This is a breaking news story... updates to follow.