Four people and dog were found dead in West Bend home, domestic violence support groups and mental health professionals share resources
CBS 58 WEST BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) — The memorial outside of a home where four people and a dog were found dead in a West Bend home as police actively investigate.
Neighbors and those who knew the victims placed balloons, stuffed animals, letters and flowers outside of the home on East Washington Street.
“It hurts my soul so much,” said Adrianne Schmidt, who said she lived down the street from the home where this happened. In our community this just doesn’t happen.”
Kain Cribb-Fichtner came to the memorial Tuesday and said he knew one of the victims.
“She was very motivated, she had a lot going for her,” Cribb-Fichtner said.
Fundraisers have been circulating on social media for the family involved.
Who was found in the home?
Police have not released the names of three of the people in the home.
The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed a man named David Slawnikowski was employed as a police officer with the department from November 16, 1998, until July 10, 2012. His employment concluded upon approval of an ordinary disability retirement.
MPD said due to the significant passage of time, and the absence of retained records, the specific circumstances surrounding that retirement are unknown.
Resources available for those impacted
Behavioral Health Clinic in West Bend is providing support to those impacted by the deaths.
“I know a lot of our providers at the West Bend clinic for Behavioral Health Clinic were just concerned and wanted to provide resources for families and anyone impacted by this event.”
Behavioral Health Clinic provides professional mental health services across 20 different locations, with one office being in West Bend. These services include therapy, testing and assessments, medication management, and speech and language services. No referral is needed and BHC offers both in-person and online mental health services. Reach out here for support.
The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee is Wisconsin’s largest domestic violence service provider, offering a 24/7 crisis hotline (414‑933‑2722), an emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, and co‑located services through its Family Peace Center partnership.
“We always have known in the advocacy world, when you have an officer or a military person who has access to weapons, who has been in that line of work, if they are an abusive person, and prone to harm others, it’s a dangerous combination,” said Carmen Pitre, the President & CEO of The Sojourner Family Peace Center. “We have a profound impact on each other as humans and when a tragedy like this happens, it just creates such a great loss.”
In Washington County, if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out to the FRIENDS, Inc. 24/7 crisis line at 262-334-7298.
