Coroner Identifies Father, Daughter Found Dead In Lake Villa

LAKE VILLA, IL — Police believe a father took his daughter's life and then his own in Lake Villa, authorities said Friday. The Lake County Coroner identified them as 9-year-old Adrianna Anderson of Island Lake and 36-year-old Christopher Anderson of Lake Villa.

Police said officers responded to the father's home in the 100 block of Briar Ridge Lane around 2:15 p.m. Thursday after the 9-year-old girl did not show up to school, and her mother called police to request a wellness check.

When Lake Villa police arrived at the home, they found the girl and her father dead inside. Preliminary autopsy results show both died as a result of "sharp-force injuries," according to the Lake County Coroner's Office.

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The girl's mother and father live in separate homes but shared custody of the girl, according to police. The parents dated at one point but had never been married, and 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. When her daughter didn't show up to school the following morning, she attempted to call the father.

After she tried several times to reach the father, the mother called Lake Villa police, and they conducted the wellness check.

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

“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 and Lake Villa Police Department.

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

This is a developing story. Check back to Patch for more details.