Court records show financial issues and marital issues ensued in the months leading up to an entire family being found dead in a suspected murder-suicide in Buffalo Grove.
During a press conference Thursday, Buffalo Grove Police Chief Brian Budds said officers responded around 11:12 a.m. Wednesday to the 2800 block of Acacia Terrace in Buffalo Grove.
A call was made by a co-worker of an adult female asking police to check on the well-being of the woman at a residence.
Officers arrived and were unable to make contact with anyone inside the home, Budds said.
Officers decided to force entry to the residence and a sweep of the home was then conducted.
The officers found five deceased people inside, Budds said.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the five as Lilia Kisliak, 67; Andrei Kisliak, 39; Vera Kisliak, 36; Vivian Kisliak, 6; and Amilia Kisliak, 4.
Andrei Kisliak and Vera Kisliak were the parents of the two children, Banek confirmed to Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
The relationship between Lilia Kisliak and the rest of the family was unconfirmed by officials but neighbors said she was a grandmother to the children and the mother of Andrei Kisliak.
Autopsies were performed Thursday and the preliminary results showed the five died from sharp force injuries, Banek said.
Sources told Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Thursday that Andrei Kisliak’s death was suspected to be suicide.
The four others were suspected to have been murdered from being stabbed, the sources said.
Police officials have still not publicly confirmed that the incident was a murder-suicide but continued to reiterate that there is “no threat to the community.”
Lake County court records show Andrei Kisliak and Vera Kisliak filed for divorce on July 8.
One month later, Andrei Kisliak filed a petition for an order of protection against his wife. A judge denied his emergency request.
In his petition, Andrei Kisliak complained about his wife working full-time and not paying for any expenses.
He said that he had been working two or three jobs for the last 10 years of their marriage “due to her lifestyle.”
“Unfortunately Vera 10 years after entering United States as internet bride, still couldn’t find herself in life,” Andrei Kisliak said in the petition.
In September, Vera Kisliak filed a petition for an order of protection against her husband. A judge granted her emergency request and later issued a plenary order of protection.
The woman said that her husband had a history of violence and a history of possessing or using firearms.
The same day that Vera Kisliak’s petition was filed, a judge found her husband in contempt of court, and two weeks later Buffalo Grove officers arrested the man after he allegedly violated the order of protection.
Court records show a bank filed for foreclosure against the couple earlier this month on November 9 after they had been behind on the mortgage for over two years.
“She only had a few couple of friends – no family here – and she confided in my mom, and my mom told her, ‘You need to get out,'” said Liliya Vitulli told CBS Chicago.
“She said she can’t – she had no money, she had no relatives – she couldn’t, couldn’t leave the situation,” Vitulli said.
“On behalf of the men and women of the Buffalo Grove Police Department along with the entire Village board and staff, our sincerest and heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims of this tragic incident. Today is a very sad day for our community as we continue to process this unthinkable event,” Budds said.
Budds provided no further details regarding the circumstances of the killings.
No survivors were left inside the home, Budds said, adding that the scene was “devasting and traumatic” for the officers who responded.
A family pet was also found dead inside the home.
The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is assisting in the ongoing investigation.
“We would see the kids playing about,” one neighbor said, WGN reported.
“They would have friends and family gatherings. Nothing too out of the ordinary so it’s a big shock to have all this occurring, especially during this time of the year,” the neighbor said.