Maciej Kotlinski charged in Dunning double homicide

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Maciej Kotlinski, 35, was charged in the deaths of a mother and her young daughter on Chicago's Northwest Side.

The victims were found dead in a home in the 3400-block of North Odell Avenue around 9 a.m. Saturday after Kotlinski, believed to be the woman's boyfriend and the 7-year-old girl's father, was arrested in Waukegan. The victims were identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office as Ania Kosinska, 34, and Victoria Kotlinski, 7.

Waukegan police had received a call about a man who claimed he harmed his family in Chicago. Officers found him in his father's backyard with a knife to his throat. They shot Kotlinski twice with a stun gun and took him into custody after he dropped the knife. Police said he had his 2-year-old daughter with him.

Waukegan authorities alerted Chicago police, who subsequently checked on Kotlinski's family at their Northwest Side home. Officers found the two victims allegedly stabbed to death, as well as a dead dog and cat, inside the home.

Kotlinski was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He is due in bond court Tuesday.

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 many 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.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.