$45K Raised For Mom Of Girl Killed In Murder-Suicide

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Nearly $47,000 has been raised for the mother of a 9-year-old girl whose daughter, authorities said, was killed in a murder-suicide.

Police believe the girl's father, Christopher Anderson, 36, fatally cut or stabbed his daughter, Adrianna Anderson, 9, before taking his own life late on Wednesday or early Thursday. The Island Lake girl was staying over at Anderson's home when the attack occurred.

A preliminary investigation revealed both died as a result of sharp force trauma, Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said in a statement late last week.

A GoFundMe set up by a Lake in the Hills woman has brought in $45,120 in just two days for Adrianna's mother. The money will help the Island Lake woman "financially in her time of grief," according to the GoFundMe. In addition, Nancy's Pizza in Island Lake is offering 20 percent off the bill of pick-up or no-contact delivery orders on Wednesday or Thursday for those who mention Adrianna's name.

That amount will be donated to Adrianna's mother. In addition, the owners of the local pizzeria will also match the total amount raised to give to the grieving mom.

"It’s really touching," said a family friend, Jaime Salvatore of Lake in the Hills.

On Thursday afternoon, Adrianna's mother called police after learning Adrianna did not show up to school that morning. Police responded to Christopher Anderson's home in the 100 block of Briar Ridge Lane in Lake Villa to conduct a wellness check.

There, they found both the 9-year-old girl and 36-year-old man dead inside.

The girl's mother and father lived in separate homes but shared custody of the girl, according to police. The parents dated at one point but had never been married, and they had worked out a verbal custody arrangement where the man typically took the daughter on weekends, said Christopher Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force.

On Wednesday, the mother agreed to let the girl stay overnight at the man's home, authorities said. The mother tried several times to reach the father after learning Adrianna had not showed up to school and then called Lake Villa police, according to a statement from the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force.

Police say they are investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide and believe Christopher Anderson killed Adrianna before taking his own life. Investigators have not determined a motive and are continuing to talk with family members, police said late last week.

"This is an incredibly tragic set of circumstance and our deepest condolences go out to the family of the child," said Lake Villa Police Chief Craig Somerville. "I want to reassure the Lake Villa community that there is no evidence to suggest there is a threat to the public."

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.

Donations can be made to Adrianna's mother on the GoFundMe website. (GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.)

Anyone struggling with mental health can get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting HOME to 741741.