Features

Kissels Of Death

The House of Kissel
At one time, they were a happy family.

THE PATRIARCH
Bill
Grieves for two dead sons. Told Nancy’s half-brother he would ruin his life if he didn’t give up Robert’s kids. Suspects Hayley’s family of murdering Andrew—from whom he was estranged.

THE (DEAD) SONS
Robert
Built a successful life for his wife and three children in Hong Kong. Found out his wife was cheating on him. Was bludgeoned to death, wrapped in a carpet, and dumped in a storage area.

Andrew
Stole millions from his Manhattan co-op. Moved to Greenwich and stole $25 million from banks. Was stabbed to death before he could serve his jail time. Or was it a staged suicide

THE SPOUSES
Nancy
Had an affair with a TV repairman. Drugged her husband, Robert, with a strawberry milk shake before killing him. Slept in the bedroom with his body for two days.

(Photo: William Farrington/Polaris)

Hayley
Along with husband Andrew (Robert’s brother), took in Robert’s children. Suspected Andrew of infidelity and criminal dealings. Told his sister, Jane, she’d fantasized about killing him.

THE KIDS

Robert's Kids

Andrew's Kids

(Photo: Dustin Shum/SCMP)

OTHER PLAYERS
Jane
Took Robert’s kids after Hayley filed for divorce. Sympathized with Hayley’s frustrated e-mails about Andrew. Trashed Hayley to the New York Times.

Brooks

(Photo: Edward Wong/SCMP)

Ira

(Photo: Edward Wong/SCMP)

Brooks and Ira
After his daughter, Nancy, killed her husband, Ira wrestled with the Kissels over the kids. Brooks, Nancy’s half-brother, a 24-year-old medical student at the time of Robert’s murder, had custody for a few weeks.

Additional reporting by Matt Stevenson and Matthew Philips.