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West Bend Community Mourns 'Little Angel' After Four Found Dead in Home; Memorial Grows as Investigators Identify One Victim
A growing memorial outside a West Bend home honors the victims of a weekend tragedy that left four dead, including a teenage girl remembered by friends as a bright, faith-filled performer. Police have identified 54-year-old David Slawnikowski as one of the deceased but have withheld the names of the other victims, including a child hospitalized in stable condition.
WEST BEND, Wis. â A makeshift memorial of candles, flowers, and teddy bears continues to expand outside a home on the city's east side, where police discovered four people and a dog dead Saturday morning. The scene near E. Washington Street has become a gathering point for a community struggling to process a loss that friends describe as incomprehensible.
West Bend police said the deceased include an adult man, an adult woman, a boy, and a girl. Another girl was found injured inside the home and was taken to a hospital, where she remains in stable condition, according to authorities. On Monday, investigators identified the man as 54-year-old David Slawnikowski. Police have not released the names of the other three people who died, nor the name of the child who was hospitalized.
Among those killed was a teenage girl remembered by friends as a gifted singer, dancer, and track athlete who had just performed in her first musical on Friday. A West Bend family, the Mortensons, told local media that the girl was a close friend of their daughter. They declined to share her full name out of respect for her family.
"My friends and I refer to it as a bad dream we can't wake up from," said Amelia Mortenson. "The thing that killed me the most was I just lost one of my best friends to something she had no power over."
Mortenson described her friend as deeply rooted in her faith and devoted to making others feel seen. "I know she's in a better place and having a blast up there, dancing with Jesus," she said. "She is one of the most beautiful people I think I've ever met, like, inside and out. She was just a gorgeous person. She was so sweet and so kind to everyone. She was just our little angel."
Andrew Mortenson, Amelia's father, recalled the girl's talent for singing and her fondness for picklesâa quirky detail that first bonded her with his daughter. "She's in Heaven," he said. "She's got so much peace. I hope the community will rally around the family that's still here because they're going to need our love and support."
The investigation into the deaths remains active, and police have not publicly discussed a suspect or a motive. The tragedy has shaken West Bend, a close-knit community where neighbors have quickly organized informal vigils and left messages of condolence at the growing memorial.
As investigators continue their work, residents are focusing on supporting the surviving child and the families affected. The Mortensons said they hope the community's grief will translate into sustained care for those left behind.
"She was the type of person who wanted to make everyone's day better," Amelia Mortenson said. "Through the grief and mourning, it's her bright personality that will continue to shine through, and all who love her will carry on loving others as their friend did."