Year In Review: Parents Recount Fatal Fire; COVID; Rittenhouse

Grayslake IL

15 December, 2021

1:46 PM

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GRAYSLAKE, IL — As 2021 comes to a close, it's time to reflect on some of the top news stories that caught Grayslake Patch readers' attention over the past year. While the year was marred by tragedy, including the horrific deaths of two young girls in a house fire, readers enjoyed learning about businesses reopening, including Six Flags Great America, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. News regarding vaccine availability in Lake County, as well as our continued coverage of COVID-related topics, made headlines. And coverage of Kyle Rittenhouse, a teen who grew up in nearby Antioch, continues to be popular among Grayslake Patch readers; even following the not guilty verdict in his murder trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last month. We've appreciated the opportunity to share these stories with you. And we look forward to sharing more with the Grayslake community in 2022. Here is a look back on 2021's top stories on Grayslake Patch: Loved Ones Remember Girl, 9, Killed In Murder-Suicide The tragic death of a 9-year-old girl, whose body was found in a Lake Villa home in February, was followed by many Grayslake Patch readers this past year. Authorities say the girl's father, 36-year-old Christopher Anderson of Lake Villa, killed the girl before he took his own life. Anderson and the girl's mother lived in separate homes but shared custody of the girl, according to police. Typically, Anderson saw his daughter, Adrianna Anderson of Island Lake, on weekends. But Anderson's mother agreed to allow Christopher to take their child on a random Wednesday night in February. The next day, which was Feb. 3, the mother requested a wellness check at Anderson's home after Adrianna did not show up for school. Police then found Christopher and Adrianna dead inside; both with "sharp-force injuries." Following her death, Adrianna was remembered as a charismatic and sweet little girl. She was a fourth grade student at Robert Crown School and had a smile that "warmed the hearts of all," school officials with Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 said in a statement following Adrianna's death. Adrianna Anderson/Credit: GoFundMe/Jamie Salvatore Her favorite color was lavender purple, and during Adrianna's Zoom classes, her cat and hamster would make "surprise appearances," Jamie Salvatore told Patch earlier this year. Salvatore organized a GoFundMe that raised more than $54,000 to help Adrianna's mother as she grieved her loss. "Tears and prayers are appreciated but supporting Adrianna's mother financially in her time of grief is also needed. There will be many expenses that need to be covered and by creating this go fund me at least we can ease her financial stress," according to Salvatore. Those wishing to donate can do so here. Parents Who Lost Girls In Fire Remember Night Their Lives Changed In the 20 minutes Teig Prickett went to the gas station to fill up his wife's car, his life changed forever. It was late on Dec. 10, and his wife, Katie, had fallen asleep just before he'd left. They'd put their young girls, Autumn Evans, 5, and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Evans, 8, to bed and retreated to their bedroom to check out a Christmas present they'd bought for Lizzie. It had arrived in the mail that day, and they were both excited. "She was into creative things, and she liked to write stories," Katie told Patch in an interview in March. "We got her this kit where she could make her own story, and then it could be sent away to be printed." "She would've really loved it," Katie said, becoming emotional as she and her husband recalled the night of the fire. Tieg and Katie recalled the night of the fire, which quickly spread through their house, and the many attempts made to rescue Lizzie and Autumn. Firefighters were not able to save the girls, and the home was destroyed. A GoFundMe set up for the family has brought in more than $224,000. Those interested in donating can do so here. Rittenhouse Coverage Among the most-read articles from our coverage of Kyle Rittenhouse this past year came following a hearing where the father of one of the men fatally shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020 requested a judge increase Rittenhouse's bail and claimed the teen was "living it up" after his son died. The hearing happened shortly after Rittenhouse turned 18 and was spotted drinking at a bar in Wisconsin with his mother while wearing a t-shirt that read "Free as [Expletive]." It is legal for an 18-year-old to drink at a bar in Wisconsin if accompanied by a parent. The judge ended up denying the bond hike. Judge Denies Bail Hike; Rittenhouse 'Living It Up,' Father Says Rittenhouse has since been acquitted of the murder charges filed in the case. Rittenhouse Acquitted In Fatal Kenosha Protest Shooting Many area residents closely followed his murder trial, and in particular, the day he spent on the stand. The teen had many ties to the area. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked for the YMCA in Lindenhurst, was a certified lifeguard and former police explorer for the Grayslake Police Department. He was also a firefighter cadet for the Antioch Fire Department, he said. Following his acquittal, news over U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene decision to introduce a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Kyle Rittenhouse made headlines. A summary of the bill stated that Rittenhouse, 18, "protected the communities of Kenosha, Wisconsin, during a Black Lives Matter riot on August 25, 2020." Rittenhouse Could Get Congressional Gold Medal If Bill Passes COVID Updates As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to loom this past year, Grayslake Patch readers sought out information on how to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus. Articles about vaccination availability grabbed readers' attention early in the year, when many still did not qualify for the shots. By early January, 175,000, or 25 percent of the total population in Lake County, had signed up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, health officials said. 175K Lake County Residents Register For COVID-19 Vaccine Here is a look at other COVID-related articles that have drawn readers' interest in 2021: Lake County Gets More Johnson & Johnson ShotsLake Co. Mass Vaccination Site Opens Up To 65, Older This WeekSix Flags Donates 50K Free Tickets To Those Who Get VaccineFirst Case Of B117 Variant Reported In Lake Co.: Health OfficialsSix Flags Great America Sets Reopening Date Here is a look at some of our other most-read stories in 2021: Grayslake Dad-To-Be Dies On Father's Day After Being Hit By Car Peeved eBay Buyers Tip Off School To Stolen Electronics: Police Fireworks Explode In Man's Face, Cause Loss Of Eye, TraumaOfficer Shoots Man Who Pointed Replica Gun At Him: Cops1 Dead In Gurnee Road-Rage IncidentData Breach Shows Public Officials Donated To RittenhouseWoman Dragged, Hit By Car While Fleeing Domestic Situation: Cops