In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the New York City Police Department has officially identified the four members of a family who tragically lost their lives in what appears to be a murder-suicide within their Upper West Side apartment earlier this week. The victims have been named as Edison Lopez, 41, Aleksandra “Ola” Witek, 40, and their two beloved sons, Lucian, 3, and Calvin, 1.
The harrowing discovery was made when the NYPD responded to a distress call, and their spokesperson has confirmed that Edison and Ola were found with fatal stab wounds to their necks, while young Lucian had suffered stab wounds to his torso, and the youngest member of the family, Calvin, had wounds scattered “around the body.” All four were pronounced deceased at the scene, with their family members expressing belief that the tragic incident occurred a day earlier than its discovery.
A heartbroken Mario Lopez, Edison’s 66-year-old father, recounted the shocking moment when he and Ola’s brother, Lukas, stumbled upon the gruesome scene. Concerned about not hearing from their loved ones for an entire day, they attempted to gain access to the apartment, ultimately discovering blood stains seeping through the door.
This alarming sight prompted them to contact the authorities, who promptly arrived at the scene, leading to the devastating discovery of the four lifeless bodies. Mario emphasized that there had been no visible signs of distress within his son’s family, stating, “If you look around and ask their friends – very levelheaded individuals. Both of them. You usually see problems in a couple where you see the behavior of the children affected immediately. Their grandmother, my wife, took care of them. We didn’t see anything.”
Longtime neighbors, such as Jeff Kimmel, who had known the Lopez family for over two decades, expressed their shock at the tragedy. They recalled the family as “really nice” and highlighted Edison’s close involvement with his children, often seen spending time with them. Edison’s lifelong connection to the apartment building, where he succeeded his father as superintendent, was also noted. Meanwhile, Ola, described as a preschool teacher and a proud Polish mother, was remembered fondly by her family in a GoFundMe campaign launched in her honor.
The campaign described her as “an incredibly loving and devoted stay-at-home mom” who imparted her wisdom and love to her two young sons, both of whom possessed vivid imaginations and endeared themselves to family and friends with their curiosity and affection.
Despite the unimaginable tragedy that has befallen this family, their memories will endure through the hearts of those who loved them. Domestic violence is an issue that touches many lives, and if you or someone you know is experiencing it, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org. Remember, all calls are confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.