In the quiet community of Hartland, Wisconsin, a heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded on October 21, 2022, claiming the life of three-year-old Lincoln McKisick, a Caucasian male. The devastating event, which also resulted in the deaths of five of his family members, was discovered after first responders were called to a fire at a four-family apartment building on Mansfield Court.
Inside the residence, a scene of immense sorrow awaited. Authorities found the bodies of Lincoln; his twin brother, Colton; his mother, Jessica McKisick, age 33; his father, Connor McKisick; and his two older half-sisters, Natalie Kleemeier, age 14, and Sofina Kleemeier, age 12. The initial belief that the family had perished in the fire gave way to a more sinister reality as the investigation progressed. The Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office later determined that all six individuals had died from gunshot wounds.
The investigation conducted by the Hartland Police Department, in conjunction with the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office and the State Fire Marshal, concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide. It was determined that Jessica McKisick and Connor McKisick both died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The four children, including young Lincoln, were ruled victims of homicide. Investigators also discovered an ignitable liquid in the apartment, indicating that the fire had been intentionally set.
In the wake of the tragedy, law enforcement officials assured the public that there were no other persons of interest and no ongoing danger to the community. The investigation found messages on the phones of both Jessica and Connor McKisick that provided insight into the devastating events. The Hartland community was left to mourn the profound loss of an entire family, remembered by friends and loved ones as a beautiful and loving group that brought joy to those who knew them.