On November 30, 2022, police were called to perform a wellness check at a home on Acacia Terrace in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, after Vera Kisliak, 36, did not show up for work. Officers discovered the bodies of five family members: Andrei Kisliak (39), Vera Kisliak (36), their daughters Vivian Kisliak (6) and Amilia Kisliak (4), and Lilia Kisliak (67, believed to be the paternal grandmother). All five died from sharp force injuries. The investigation determined that Andrei Kisliak murdered his family members and then killed himself. The family had a well-documented history of domestic violence, with 14 domestic-related police calls, and Andrei had previously threatened to kill his wife and "cut her family's heads off." The couple had filed for divorce in July 2022, an order of protection had been granted to Vera, and the home was under foreclosure. In the days before the murders, Andrei was desperately trying to sell his cars.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The lakemchenryscanner.com article states: "During an August 23 incident, Vera Kisliak reported that her husband threatened to kill her, had a gun in the home and broke her phone." It also states Vera said "her husband had a history of violence and a history of possessing or using firearms." While the deaths themselves were caused by sharp force injuries rather than firearms, a firearm was present during a prior domestic violence incident and there was a documented history of firearms possession/use by the perpetrator.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
All five victims, including both children, died from "sharp force injuries" according to autopsies. The lakemchenryscanner.com article states: "The five died from sharp force injuries, according to the autopsies." The CBS News article confirms: "the five completed autopsies found the cause of deaths were all from sharp force injuries." The father, Andrei Kisliak, inflicted these injuries on his family members, which constitutes inflicted injury (stabbing/cutting).
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
All three documents describe this as a murder-suicide. The lakemchenryscanner.com article states: "Budds said Andrei Kisliak killed his family members before inflicting wounds on himself and succumbing to those wounds." The CBS News article describes it as "an apparent quadruple murder suicide." The Patch article states the evidence supports "that Andrei Kisliak murdered his family and then took his own life."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Andrei Kisliak was the biological father of both child victims. The lakemchenryscanner.com article states: "Andrei Kisliak and Vera Kisliak were the parents of the two children, Banek said." The same article further states: "Budds said Andrei Kisliak killed his family members before inflicting wounds on himself and succumbing to those wounds."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
While no explicit CPS/DCFS child protection reports are mentioned, the lakemchenryscanner.com article states: "Six of the domestic-related call responses ended with referrals to social services or other agencies" and "the Buffalo Grove police social worker was working with Vera Kisliak and her daughters regularly to provide resources and referrals." The involvement of a police social worker working directly with the children and referrals to social services in the context of domestic violence with children present implies child protection involvement, though formal child protection reports are not explicitly referenced.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Domestic violence by the parent/caregiver is extensively documented across all three sources. The lakemchenryscanner.com article states: "Police records show officers responded to 14 domestic-related calls involving the family" and "Vera Kisliak reported that her husband threatened to kill her, had a gun in the home and broke her phone." The article also states Andrei Kisliak told his wife he would "cut her family's heads off" and that "Two of the calls resulted in Andrei Kisliak's arrest." Orders of protection were filed and Vera stated "her husband had a history of violence." The CBS News article confirms "Police said a preliminary investigation indicated it was due to a domestic-related incident."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The lakemchenryscanner.com article states: "Two of the calls resulted in Andrei Kisliak's arrest" in connection with domestic-related incidents prior to the fatal incident. The CBS News article states: "In September, Andrei Kisliak was arrested for violating an order of protection. He was released on a continued bond on Oct. 12." The Patch article states: "nearly 30 court cases involving Andrei Kisliak were either active or had been closed, dating back to 2000." These arrests and court cases predate and are separate from the fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable systemic details emerge from the text. Despite 14 domestic-related police calls, arrests, an active order of protection, and a police social worker working with the family, the murders were not prevented. The lakemchenryscanner.com article notes: "Police on some occasions recommended Vera Kisliak pursue a divorce or consider obtaining an order of protection." Additionally, the Patch article reveals "nearly 30 court cases involving Andrei Kisliak were either active or had been closed, dating back to 2000." Financial stress was acute: the home was under foreclosure (filed Nov. 9), and the lakemchenryscanner.com article reports Andrei was "desperate" to sell his cars at a Palatine dealership in the days leading up to the murders. Also noteworthy, a family dog was also killed during the incident (per the CBS and Patch articles), and Andrei had previously filed his own petition for an order of protection against Vera, which was denied, suggesting potential DARVO dynamics.
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