A fundraiser has been launched for the grieving mother of a 9-year-old Island Lake girl who was killed by her father in what police say was a murder-suicide in Lake Villa.
Autopsies show Adrianna Anderson, 9, of Island Lake, and Christopher Anderson, 36, of Lake Villa, both died of sharp force trauma, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
“She became an angel far too soon and leaves behind a grieving mother who could use our support,” Jaime Salvatore, who is a family friend, said in a GoFundMe account post.
The Lake Villa Police Department responded around 2:15 p.m. Thursday to the 100 block of Briar Ridge Lane in Lake Villa for a well-being check on a child.
Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said the mother of Adrianna called police to check on her daughter after the girl was marked absent from school.
A preliminary investigation shows the child’s mother and father, Christopher Anderson, lived separately but shared custody of the girl, Covelli said.
Officers entered the home on Briar Ridge Lane and found Adrianna deceased along with her father Christopher Anderson, who was also deceased.
Police say the child’s mother agreed on Wednesday to allow Adrianna to stay with her father overnight.
“When the girl was not in attendance at school today, the mother attempted to call the father. After several attempts of not being able to reach the father, the mother called Lake Villa Police to conduct a well-being check,” Covelli said.
Police say that based on the facts and circumstances obtained so far, the case is being investigated as a murder-suicide. Investigators believe the father killed his daughter and then killed himself.
“Tears and prayers are appreciated but supporting Adrianna’s mother financially in her time of grief is also needed. There will be many expenses that need to be covered and by creating this go fund me at least we can ease her financial stress,” Salvatore said in the GoFundMe.
The fundraiser, which was started Saturday morning, has already raised $6,500 within two hours.
“This is an incredibly tragic set of circumstances and our deepest condolences go out to the family of the child. I want to reassure the Lake Villa community that there is no evidence to suggest there is a threat to the public,” Lake Villa Police Chief Craig Somerville said.
The incident remains under investigation by members of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, Lake County Coroner’s Office and Lake Villa Police Department.