BRISTOL — The family of a 23-year-old mother of two, found murdered in her apartment Tuesday, are joining police to plead that someone with information about the killer step forward.

Police found the body of Sheena Kiska inside her River Shores apartment in Bristol just before 3 p.m. Tuesday. An autopsy Wednesday night confirmed she was beaten and stabbed to death.

Neighbors say one of her two children was found wandering outside the apartment. They called 911 after the child told them "Mom was hurt."

Police would not confirm the sex or age of the child, but said Kiska has two children, and that both are now "doing fine."

Now an intense manhunt is underway to find the person responsible for what police say is the first homicide in Bristol's recorded history.

For Sheena's father Greg Kiska, the moment seemed unreal.

"She was a wonderful mother of her children. [A loving person], oh yes," he said.

Just days ago, he was speaking to his daughter, and looking forward to visiting his two grandchildren.

Now, he and his family sat listening to words they hoped they'd never hear.

"At approximately 5 p.m. [Wednesday], the Elkhart County Coroner's Office ruled from the findings of the autopsy that this death is a homicide," said Bristol Police Marshal Michael Swallow.

"Death was due to multiple sharp force trauma," said Elkhart County Coroner John White.

Police won't elaborate on how Kiska died, or on whether there were signs of forced entry into her home. They also refused to say whether reported arguments neighbors say they overheard near the apartment in recent weeks may have been connected to her death.

"The history of this apartment is very minimal to us. I'll leave it at that," said Bristol Police Chief Deputy Mike Albin.

Albin said all police would confirm is that they are following up on several leads.

"We're open to all possibilities," he said. "We do not want to focus in on one thing, and we're not going to exclude anything."

But Marshal Swallow admits, so far, they have little to go on.

"We've had nothing so far [that's been] substantial," he said.

It's not the news Nicole Defronzo wanted to hear.

She lives next door to the apartment where Kiska was found, and says she and her fiance are shaken up.

"I'm kind of scared to be here honestly," she said. "We're putting the chains on the door all the time."

But police say there's no reason for the community to be afraid, because they don't feel there's an imminent threat.

"The citizens of Bristol have nothing to worry about," said Chief Deputy Albin. "This is not something that's going to jeopardize our general citizens. We're working on this case, which appears to be an isolated incident."

Still, they're asking for anyone with information to come forward..

"We're asking for the public's assistance in any way, shape or form," said Marshal Swallow. "They can give us anything they may know."

It's a plea being repeated by Sheena's family, as they search for answers in the face of tragedy.

"Anybody that knows anything, or has any information on this, please come forward and help solve this," Kiska pleaded. "Please help us."

Police finished collecting evidence from the apartment Wednesday, and say they are pursuing some new leads in connection with what they've found.

Several nearby departments, including Mishawaka Police, Indiana State Police, Michigan State Police, Constantine Police and investigators from the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department and Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office are assisting in the investigation.