Serena Dolnics, 32, has been charged with murder after police discovered the body of her 69-year-old father Gregory at a home in Valparaiso, about 50 miles from Chicago. Officers found the man with slash wounds to his head, face, neck and hands, and his heart cut from his body, according to an affidavit.
Police were called to the property on Sunday evening after a family member reported concern for Gregory Dolnics' wellbeing. During the call, the relative told a handler that Serena Dolnics had been making "odd statements" when asked to speak with her father.
While that call was in progress, officers received text messages from Serena Dolnics' boyfriend, who was at the home. He said Serena was "covered in blood," and he believed she had stabbed her father and might kill herself, the affidavit said.
Discovery at the property
When police arrived, they found the boyfriend locked outside, peering in through a mirror. They could see dried blood and were unable to contact Gregory Dolnics. Forcing entry, they found his body, with what appeared to be his heart lying on his stomach. "Laying on his stomach was what appeared to be his heart," police wrote.
An autopsy later determined that all the injuries had been inflicted with knives, including incisions to the ribs to allow the heart to be removed.
Suspect's statements
Dolnics was located in a bedroom with blood on her feet. She was arrested and treated at a hospital for injuries to her hands. In court documents, she claimed the cuts on her hands were from gardening, but police said the injuries were consistent with a knife slipping through.
She told detectives she and her father "get along really well" despite occasional "small tiff" that they would quickly move past, and insisted she had not seen Gregory injured.
Court appearance
Dolnics made an initial court appearance on Thursday, July 30, wearing a blue suicide-prevention smock and speaking hesitantly via video chat. She has pleaded not guilty and has not yet arranged an attorney, telling the court, "I'll figure it out." A further hearing is scheduled for August 11.
