Serena Dolnics, 32, has been charged with murder after police found the body of her father Gregory, 69, covered in blood with his heart allegedly placed on his stomach
A woman found “covered in blood” has been accused of killing her dad and surgically removing his heart.
Serena Dolnics, 32, was found by police at a house in Valparaiso, around 50 miles from Chicago, by the body of her father and she has now been charged with murder.
Police rushed to the scene following a reported emergency call over concern for the wellbeing of 69-year-old Gregory Dolnics on Sunday evening – with a call handler told by family member that the daughter had been making “odd statements” when they asked to speak with him.
And while the relative was on the phone to 911, the police received text messages from Serena Dolnics’ boyfriend, who was at the home, saying “Serena was covered in blood” – and he believed she had stabbed her father and might kill herself, the affidavit reportedly said.
Arriving at the property, police found the boyfriend locked outside and peering in through a mirror they could see dried blood and they were unable to contact Gregory Dolnics
Forcing entry, they found the body of Gregory, who had allegedly suffered slash wounds to the head, face, neck and hands, while his heart had been cut out from his body. “Laying on his stomach was what appeared to be his heart,” police wrote in the affidavit, reported by USA Today.
According to an autopsy, all of these injuries had been committed with knives, including incisions made to the ribs to allow the removal of the heart.
Dolnics, who was found in a bedroom at the property with blood on her feet, was arrested and taken into custody after being treated at hospital due to injuries to her hands.
According to court documents, Dolnics claimed she suffered the cuts to her hands while gardening, although police maintain that these injuries were consistent with a knife slipping through.
She told detectives that she and her father “get along really well” despite having the occasional “small tiff” that they would quickly move past. She also insisted she had not seen Gregory injured.
Dolnics made an initial court appearance on Thursday (July 30), where she wore a blue suicide-prevention smock and reportedly spoke hesitantly via a video chat link.
She has reportedly pleaded not guilty, although she is not yet believed to have arranged an attorney, and when asked in court about this, she said: “I’ll figure it out.” A further hearing has been scheduled for August 11.
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