Dozens gather at vigil in Hartland for six victims, displaced survivors
Just after 5 a.m. last Friday, Oct. 20, authorities responded to a four-family apartment building in flames. It happened near Oxford Drive and Mansfield Court.Police told WISN 12 News they discovered six bodies inside the burning building. “You’re just in despair, because you don’t prepare for something like this,” said Village President, Jeffrey Pfannerstill.Police said Jessica McKisick, her 12 and 14-year-old daughters and her three-year-old twin boys were found inside with a single gunshot wound.Police said Connor McKisick was also found dead inside with a single gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted.”I was on a walk and I could smell it and I knew it was really bad. I walk early in the morning. Horrific,” said Marlene Millevolte. The tragedy is impacting even the youngest in Hartland. “I teach young students at my studio here in town and they were coming in from school after school, asking, ‘what’s being done, why isn’t anything being done?'” Millevolte said.A week following the tragedy, Millevolte, with the help of Pfannerstill and St. Charles Catholic Church held a vigil in Nixon Park. Dozens of community members gathered to pray, to sing and to mourn.”Just come together, show some hope, be a community and love each other. Letting these people know that we stand behind them and we’re not going to let them down, even if they were displaced. We’re like one big family,” Pfannerstill said.Three families that lived in the apartment building were displaced by the fire. Pfannerstill said anyone who wishes to help them can make donations to the Village of Hartland, which they will split evenly among the survivors.
HARTLAND, Wis. —
Just after 5 a.m. last Friday, Oct. 20, authorities responded to a four-family apartment building in flames. It happened near Oxford Drive and Mansfield Court.
Police told WISN 12 News they discovered six bodies inside the burning building.
“You’re just in despair, because you don’t prepare for something like this,” said Village President, Jeffrey Pfannerstill.
Police said Jessica McKisick, her 12 and 14-year-old daughters and her three-year-old twin boys were found inside with a single gunshot wound.
Police said Connor McKisick was also found dead inside with a single gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted.
“I was on a walk and I could smell it and I knew it was really bad. I walk early in the morning. Horrific,” said Marlene Millevolte.
The tragedy is impacting even the youngest in Hartland.
“I teach young students at my studio here in town and they were coming in from school after school, asking, ‘what’s being done, why isn’t anything being done?'” Millevolte said.
A week following the tragedy, Millevolte, with the help of Pfannerstill and St. Charles Catholic Church held a vigil in Nixon Park. Dozens of community members gathered to pray, to sing and to mourn.
“Just come together, show some hope, be a community and love each other. Letting these people know that we stand behind them and we’re not going to let them down, even if they were displaced. We’re like one big family,” Pfannerstill said.
Three families that lived in the apartment building were displaced by the fire. Pfannerstill said anyone who wishes to help them can make donations to the Village of Hartland, which they will split evenly among the survivors.
