Serena Dolnics, 32, was arrested and charged with murder after deputies responding to a welfare check on July 26 found her father, Gregory Dolnics, dead in their Morgan Township home with multiple injuries and an apparently disturbed chest cavity. Family members had raised the alarm after Gregory stopped answering calls and Serena's boyfriend reported seeing her "covered in blood." Police recovered three blood-covered knives; Serena was treated at a hospital for hand injuries and has pleaded not guilty. The investigation is ongoing.
Indiana Woman Arrested and Charged With Murder After Father Found Dead; Officials Say Heart Was Removed
Serena DolnicsCredit: Porter County Sheriff's Office
An Indiana woman, 32-year-old Serena Dolnics, has been arrested and charged with murder after authorities say her father, Gregory Dolnics, was found dead inside their Morgan Township home with multiple injuries and his chest cavity reportedly disturbed.
Porter County deputies responded to a welfare check on Sunday, July 26, at about 7:56 p.m. after family members reported Gregory had stopped answering calls and relatives said Serena had been making "odd statements" when asked to put him on the phone. A relative also told police Serena's boyfriend had contacted the family saying he had seen Serena "covered in blood" and feared she might harm herself.
Officers who looked through a window of the locked home observed a body on the floor covered in dried blood. After forcing entry, deputies located Gregory deceased inside the residence and took Serena into custody at the scene, the Porter County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) said.
Porter County Sheriff's Office vehicleCredit: Porter County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
Investigators' Observations
Court documents obtained by local outlets, including the Chicago Tribune and WTHR, say the victim had wounds to his head, hands and arms and that investigators noted a chest wound. The filings indicate the chest cavity "appeared to be empty, as if something was removed," and officers said they observed what they described as the man's heart positioned on his stomach.
Police reported finding three knives inside the home that were covered in blood. Serena was located in a bedroom wearing a tank top; her shirt, feet and legs were reportedly stained with blood. After her arrest she was evaluated at a local hospital, where staff documented injuries investigators said were consistent with a knife slipping through her hand.
PCSO: "This is an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety."
Legal Status
Serena Dolnics was booked by the Porter County Sheriff's Office on one count of murder on July 27 and is being held without bond, according to public arrest records. She pleaded not guilty to the charge during an appearance before Circuit Court Judge David C. Matsey on July 30, the Chicago Tribune reported. An attorney for Serena did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have said there is no known continuing threat to the community. Local news outlets remain the primary sources for court filings and police statements in the case.
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