The police chief reflected Thursday on the one-year anniversary of a family of five, which included two children, being killed in a murder-suicide that shook the Buffalo Grove community.
Lilia Kisliak, 67; Andrei Kisliak, 39; Vera Kisliak, 36; Vivian Kisliak, 6; and Amilia Kisliak, 4, were found dead inside their home in the 2800 block of Acacia Terrace in Buffalo Grove on November 30, 2022.
Officers responding to a well-being check call made the discovery.
Buffalo Grove Police Chief Brian Budds said following the investigation that Andrei Kisliak killed his family members before inflicting wounds on himself and succumbing to those wounds.
“As I’ve mentioned on past occasions, it is very difficult to articulate the range of thoughts and emotions we all experienced a year ago,” Budds told Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Thursday, which marked the one-year anniversary of the case.
“But I can clearly describe the phenomenal professionalism, focus, and resilience of all the first responders and support personnel demonstrated during the initial phases of the investigation,” Budds said.
“Police officers are very resilient and well-equipped to handle the incredible stress of an unthinkable tragedy such as this but can still be emotionally vulnerable, and this case reaffirmed the value of our peer support and wellness programs and resources,” Budds added.
The co-worker who called police that day had told officers that Vera Kisliak had been going through a contentious divorce with her husband and it was unusual for her not to show up for work without notice.
Officers arrived at the woman’s home and were unable to make contact with anyone inside.
Officers spotted a “suspicious stain” on the kitchen floor, which they saw from a window, according to a police report.
A ladder was used and officers spotted “reddish liquid” on a bathroom floor that appeared to be blood as they looked through another window.
Officers then saw a small child lying on the ground surrounded by blood, the report said. They forced entry to the home through the garage.
An elderly woman was found lying on the floor inside the home near the entryway to the garage.
Officers moved to the upstairs of the home and found three additional deceased subjects in a hallway, the report said.
The small child whom officers had spotted through the window before making entry was located in a bedroom and also confirmed to be dead.
Andrei Kisliak and Vera Kisliak were the parents of the two children, Banek said. Neighbors said Lilia Kisliak was a grandmother to the children and the mother of Andrei Kisliak.
The five died from sharp force injuries, according to the autopsies.
Budds, who was hired as police chief just weeks prior to the murder-suicide, said the incident was a reminder of how close-knit the Buffalo Grove community is.
“This community spirit was very helpful for our team during the investigation and weeks that followed as we healed together as a community. Most importantly, we should all pause for a moment to reflect and remember all the innocent victims of that terrible event,” Budds said Thursday.
Police records show officers responded to 14 domestic-related calls involving the family. All of the calls, except one, took place in 2022.
Six of the domestic-related call responses ended with referrals to social services or other agencies.
Vera Kisliak was the complainant in 10 of them, records show. Two of the calls resulted in Andrei Kisliak’s arrest.
Police on some occasions recommended Vera Kisliak pursue a divorce or consider obtaining an order of protection, the reports show.
The village said that the Buffalo Grove police social worker was working with Vera Kisliak and her daughters regularly to provide resources and referrals.