She Stabbed Her Father To Death, Cut Out His Heart And Left It On His Stomach.

On July 26, 2026, shortly before 8 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 50 block of South 450 East in Valparaiso, Indiana, after relatives requested a welfare check on a man who had stopped answering their calls. Upon arrival, officers found him dead on the floor and covered in dried blood.

The victim was identified as 70-year-old Gregory Dolnics.

Gregory’s relatives told dispatchers he lived with his 32-year-old daughter, Serena Desiree Dolnics. They said Serena had been making odd statements whenever they asked to speak with him.

While a family member was still speaking with 911, Serena’s boyfriend allegedly began calling and texting the family. He said Serena had stabbed Gregory, was covered in blood and might kill herself.

When an officer arrived, the boyfriend said Serena had locked him outside the home. The officer looked through the windows and saw drops of blood on the floor before spotting Gregory’s body covered in dried blood.

Additional officers entered through the rear of the residence and found Gregory lying on his back near two recliners and a small end table.

During a protective sweep, officers saw a bedroom door being closed and then locked from inside.

A SWAT team was called to the home. Shortly after 9:45 p.m., officers entered the bedroom and took Serena into custody.

According to court documents, Serena was barefoot, and both of her feet were covered in blood. She was wearing a tank top containing a large amount of blood, was not wearing pants and also had blood covering her legs.

No one else was found inside the home.

Serena was transported to a hospital, where doctors found injuries on the back of her right hand and several wounds across her palms. Investigators said the injuries appeared consistent with a knife slipping through someone’s hand.

After being treated and released, Serena was taken to the detective bureau. She waived her Miranda rights and agreed to speak with investigators.

Serena allegedly told detectives she had spent the day watching television while Gregory, who she said was not feeling well, laid around the home.

She said she and Gregory got along “really well” and only had small disagreements that they quickly resolved.

Serena also described the man who contacted her family as “more of an ex-boyfriend” and said no one else stayed at or visited the home.

When detectives asked about her injured hands, Serena allegedly claimed she had hurt herself while working alone in the garden with a weedwhacker or small saw because she was clumsy.

Investigators reported finding no evidence of a garden anywhere on the property.

Blood was found across both recliners, a nearby couch and the floor surrounding Gregory’s body. Drops of blood also formed a trail from the area where Gregory was found, through the kitchen and into Serena’s bedroom.

Gregory had cuts and stab wounds across his head, face, hands and arms. Multiple stab wounds were also found on the back of his neck.

His shirt had been rolled up to his upper chest. His chest had been cut open and appeared empty, as though an organ had been removed.

What appeared to be Gregory’s heart was found lying on top of his stomach.

Investigators recovered three knives from the living room and kitchen. All three knives had blood covering their handles.

Three bloody footprints, believed to have been made by a barefoot person, were also discovered near Gregory’s body.

An autopsy determined Gregory died from multiple sharp-force injuries. His death was ruled a homicide.

On July 28, Serena was formally charged with murder.

She remains held without bond at the Porter County Jail.