Kinslee Tschida, 8, was struck while getting off a swing at her Serena home.
SERENA, Ill. — An 8-year-old girl died after lightning struck her Friday evening as she got off a backyard swing at her home in rural La Salle County, leaving her family and community grieving.
Kinslee Tschida’s death has shaken relatives who said the storm still seemed far away when the strike hit. Her grandfather, Chris Scheib, said the family had little time to react before the lightning came down near the home. The case is under investigation by local authorities and the coroner’s office.
Scheib said Kinslee had been outside with other children when an adult heard thunder and told them to come inside. “He said he just heard a rumble and said, ‘Hey, get off now,’” Scheib said. Moments later, Kinslee was struck about 15 to 18 feet from the house. Scheib said another granddaughter was standing only 3 to 4 feet away but was not hurt. “There was no warning at all,” he said.
Kinslee was taken to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa after the strike. Authorities said the county coroner’s office was called to the hospital Friday evening. An autopsy was conducted Sunday, and officials said preliminary findings showed she died from injuries suffered in the lightning strike. The official final findings were still pending.
Relatives described Kinslee as joyful, confident and full of energy. Her grandparents said she was known at school as the “Queen Bee” and had a way of drawing attention when she entered a room. “She did have a way of walking in the room,” Scheib said. “She was just a presence.” Family members said she loved singing, dancing and making others laugh.
The death was one of only a few lightning fatalities reported in the United States this year, according to national lightning safety tracking. In Illinois, fatal lightning strikes are rare, which relatives said has made the sudden loss harder to understand. Scheib, who works on a farm and knows the danger of storms, said the family had no clear sign that the threat was so close.
A fundraiser was created to help Kinslee’s family with medical and funeral costs. Its message called her “a bright light” whose laughter and love would remain with those who knew her. Scheib said the support from neighbors, friends and others has helped the family face the first days after her death, though the loss remains overwhelming.
Kinslee’s wake was being planned for Monday, with burial expected the following day in Marseilles. Authorities had not announced any further findings as of Thursday.
Author note: Last updated July 9, 2026.