NW Side man charged with killing girlfriend, 7-year-old daughter

A 35-year-old Chicago man has been charged with murder in the killing of his live-in girlfriend, their 7-year-old daughter and two household pets.

Maciej Kotlinski, of the 3400 block of North Odell, faces two counts of first-degree murder in the Northwest Side slaying, Chicago Police said Monday night in a news release.

Friends and authorities said a suicidal Kotlinski showed up at a family member’s Waukegan home Sunday morning with one daughter. Kotlinski told police he had “harmed his family.”

Soon after, Chicago Police conducting a well-being check made a grisly discovery at the family’s home in the 3400 block of North Odell. Inside, they found a woman and child who had been stabbed to death, authorities said.

They were identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office as Ania Kosinska, 34, and Victoria Kotlinski, 7.

Police also found that the “family pets were unresponsive,” according to a police report. Sources said a dog and cat also were stabbed to death.

Victoria was a second-grader at St. Francis Borgia School, according to a statement from the school, which said the parish and school were “devastated by the sudden and senseless loss.”

It’s not clear what prompted the slayings. But by all accounts, the Polish couple fought often.

Maggie Witucki, who lives nearby, said neighbors would sometimes be forced to call police when the squabbling spilled outside. She said the bickering never turned violent, though.

Another friend of the couple, who asked not to be identified, said Kotlinski spoke a month ago about taking custody of the children, claiming their mother had harmed them. The couple had an on-again, off-again relationship, the friend said.

Contributing: Jon Seidel