A 32-year-old Indiana woman was arrested Sunday evening after authorities allege she fatally stabbed her father and removed his heart, according to investigators. Serena Dolnics was taken into custody outside the home of her father, Gregory Dolnics, 70, in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Police were dispatched to the residence for a welfare check after family members expressed concern about Gregory Dolnics. Family members told authorities that Serena Dolnics had made “odd statements” when they attempted to speak with her father. During the call to 911, Serena Dolnics's boyfriend reportedly contacted the family, stating he was at Gregory Dolnics's home and observed Serena “covered in blood.” He also relayed that Serena had stabbed her father and appeared to be contemplating self-harm.
Upon arrival, officers found Serena Dolnics had barricaded herself in a locked bedroom. A SWAT team was called to the scene, and a standoff ensued until her arrest around 9:45 p.m. Investigators discovered Gregory Dolnics's body inside the home. The coroner ruled the death a homicide due to multiple sharp-force injuries. Authorities reported that the victim's heart had been removed and placed on his stomach. He also sustained numerous wounds to his head, hands, and arms.
Officers at the scene observed blood drops on the floor through a window. Three blood-covered knives were reportedly recovered from the residence. When taken into custody, Serena Dolnics was transported to a hospital for treatment of a hand injury. She reportedly told officers the injury resulted from using a “weedwhacker and small saw” in her yard, but officers noted no such gardening activity was present on the property.
Serena Dolnics has been charged with murder and was denied bail. Court records indicate she has prior legal encounters, including charges in April 2023 for methamphetamine possession and resisting law enforcement. She received a suspended sentence and probation in that case, which included mandates for drug testing, therapy, and mental health evaluations. She also faced arrests in 2016 and 2015 for various traffic offenses, including driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license.
At her arraignment, Serena Dolnics entered a plea of not guilty. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and a motive has not yet been established.