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Nearly two months after Jeffrey Manke and his two daughters were found dead at his home in Winneconne, Wisconsin, autopsy reports confirmed that the family died from a murder-suicide.
The Winnebago County Medical Examiner’s Office report stated that both Jaelyn Manke and Lenora Manke were shot with a .38 caliber revolver, according to NBC 26. Lenora, 11, was shot at least twice, while Jaelyn, 16, was shot once.
Jeffrey, 57, then died by suicide after he killed his kids, according to the report.
Toxicology reports stated that Jeffrey had a blood alcohol content of 0.133 at the time he died, which is significantly above the legal driving limit of 0.08.
“Scene findings at the time of autopsy are consistent with a double murder-suicide scenario,” the report stated.
As Us previously reported, Jeffrey and his daughters died just hours after he finalized his divorce from the girls’ mother, Lindsay Lewandowski, on July 31. Lewandowski filed for divorce in 2024, and the exes went through a brutal custody battle in the following years.
Three days after the murdr-suicide, Lewandowski took to Facebook and alleged that her daughters “felt unsafe” with Jeffrey.
“I’m so sad. Everyone they talked to knew they were not safe in his care. And I fought so hard to try to keep them safe. The family counselor dismissed them and refused to continue working with them. The gal knew they didn’t want to be there. Cps reports were made. Cops were called,” she wrote at the time. “I was legally forced to send them when they felt unsafe. Nobody wanted to listen. If someone listened to their cries for help for the last 2 years, they would still be here. The system failed my babies.”
Jeffrey’s drinking allegedly played a role in his strained relationship with his kids.
According to an affidavit filed in March 2025 and obtained by Us, Lewandowski said that his “intoxication provides their kids with a great deal of anxiety.”
Police revealed that Kristopher Karolkiewicz bought a gun just over one week before he killed his wife, Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, their six kids and himself in a murder-suicide. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said that Kristopher, 47, purchased a 9 mm handgun eight days before the tragic events occurred on July 24, according to WOOD […]
Meanwhile, Jeffrey said he believed his kids were told to spy on him. “I was drinking a 7-Up, and I put olives in it with no liquor. When I arrived at dance to pick up my child, the police said I had an anonymous report that I was drunk driving and I was approached by three officers. I talked to the officers and offered to take a breathalyzer, but they said they were convinced I was not drinking,” he said, per an affidavit viewed by Us. “I believe she [my child] was encouraged to report that to the police.”
In another filing from April 2025, Lewandowski discussed Jeffrey’s struggles with alcohol and claimed he would drink alcohol under the influence of prescription pain pills. Lewandowski also alleged that Jeffrey would store liquor in their bedroom during their marriage.
She added that Jeffrey’s drinking affected their whole family.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
