Lisa Koziol-Ellis, Elgin Artist, Fatally Stabbed Inside Her Suburban Home

Artist Found Fatally Stabbed Inside Her Home

Updated story

A police investigation is ongoing into the stabbing death of Lisa Koziol-Ellis, a 33-year-old artist who was found dead in her Elgin, Ill. town home on Saturday.

Koziol-Ellis was stabbed multiple times inside her townhouse in the suburb's Garden Quarter subdivision, the Kane County Coroner's Office said Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Toxicology results will not be in until about a month from now.

Koziol-Ellis was found dead by her husband, "Dash" Ellis, upon returning from work at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Dash immediately called 911 and has been cooperating with polices' investigation in the killing, the western suburb's first homicide this year.

Police are reportedly as yet unsure whether Koziol-Ellis was specifically targeted in the killing or if her murder was random, the Chicago Tribune reports. The couple had reportedly moved into the townhouse just two days before Koziol-Ellis' murder, a neighbor told CBS Chicago.

Koziol-Ellis was also known by the nickname "Foxy Goat" and was both an artist and jewelry maker.

Tamale Sepp, who had been friends with Koziol-Ellis for five years, described her as "very charming and likable and had such a good heart," according to the Daily Herald. Her sister, Renee Martinson, previously told the Herald that her sister was "an amazing, caring person who did everything possible to put everyone else before herself and let us all know how much she loved us."

Photographer Brian C. Janes, who photographed Koziol-Ellis in 2009, on Sunday posted a photo tribute to the woman.

No weapon was found at the scene of the crime and police are hoping the public will help them solve the case, according to ABC Chicago. Anyone with information is being urged to contact police at (847) 695-4195 or (847) 289-2700.

UPDATE (3/7/13): A group of those who knew Koziol-Ellis are collecting donations online to fund a reward for information leading to the arrest of her killer. As of Wednesday afternoon, they have raised nearly half of their $5,000 goal. ByThursday, the goal was increased to $15,000, of which they'd raised over $6,000.

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