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Indiana woman murders father, extracts his heart and places it on his abdomen

Serena Dolnics, 32, was arrested after stabbing her 69-year-old father, Gregory Dolnics, to death and removing his heart, which was found on his stomach.

Authorities responded to a Valparaiso residence when family members failed to contact Gregory Dolnics, a 69-year-old man. Inside, they found his daughter, Serena Dolnics, 32, smeared with blood and holding slice wounds she claimed came from gardening tools. The father’s body lay on the floor with slash wounds to his head, face, neck and hands, and his heart had been removed and placed on his stomach.

An autopsy ruled the death a homicide caused by multiple sharp-force injuries, and three knives with blood were seized. Serena Dolnics was arrested, charged with murder, and a judge ordered her detention without bail. During a video court appearance she wore a suicide vest, entered a not-guilty plea, and said she would sort out an attorney. Her sister, Jennifer Naccarato, started a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs, noting the family was unprepared for the tragedy.

Why it matters

The case highlights a shocking instance of familial homicide and raises concerns about mental health and public safety.

In this story

father murderheart removalIndiana homicidesuicide vestGoFundMecriminal recordcourt appearanceblood-stained knivesfamily tragedy