About ISMS
About Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide
Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide was founded by Michael Vinton, Tina Chevalier, and Kristina F., LCMHC, each personally impacted by murder suicide loss. After navigating their own experiences, they began searching for support created specifically for families living with this kind of grief and found very little that reflected its full complexity.
ISMS grew from that reality. It was created to offer a space where survivors do not have to explain the nuances of their loss, soften their experience, or carry it alone. From the beginning, it has been shaped by lived experience and by the belief that survivors deserve to be met as they are.
Today, Michael and Tina continue to lead ISMS and carry its vision forward.
Meet the Team
Tina C.
Co-Founder/Podcast Host
Loss survivor of murder-suicide and advocate.
Tina Chevalier is a founding member of Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide (ISMS) and a survivor of the loss of her brother in 2021. Her journey through grief shaped her commitment to creating spaces where survivors can feel held with compassion, understanding, and care. Guided by her lived experience, Tina brings a survivor first approach to her work and is dedicated to continually learning, researching, and growing so she can better serve this deeply underserved community. She helps guide ISMS’s survivor support programs and outreach efforts, bringing a steady, compassionate presence to every part of the work. Through her leadership at ISMS, she works to build community, elevate awareness, and foster meaningful support for those navigating the long aftermath of murder suicide. Her work reflects a steady devotion to healing, connection, and the belief that no survivor should ever be left alone in their grief.
Michael Vinton
Co-Founder/Podcast Host
Loss survivor of murder-suicide and advocate.
Michael Vinton is a Los Angeles-based actor, foster and adoptive parent, and small business owner. The tragic loss of his brother in August 2020 catalyzed Michael’s work supporting fellow murder-suicide loss survivors. He contributed to the collective book, "Untold Stories of Murder-Suicide" and also volunteers at Didi Hirsch in their Survivors After Suicide support groups. He co-created and patented the Murder-Suicide Loss Survivor ribbon with fellow loss survivors. Michael's advocacy work led to the development of the podcast "Unspoken Grief" and the formation of the group Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide, which he co-founded with Kristina Faulkner and Tina Chevalier. Their mission aims to increase awareness, enhance support groups, advance research, and pave the way for prevention efforts.
Mateenah Adeleke
Mateenah, is currently a senior at Smith College, double majoring in Psychology and Theatre. Mateenah is deeply passionate about community, mental health, and creative expression, and has had the opportunity to work with several organizations supporting high-risk and underserved populations, including those affected by suicide. Mateenah is honored and excited to be volunteering with the Impacted Survivors Team and looks forward to contributing to this meaningful work.
Get in Touch
Interested in connecting with us? We welcome you to share your thoughts and stories. Your voice matters, and we are here to support you on your journey of healing and hope.
SUPPORT IMPACTED SURVIVORS
Your donation is more than a gift—it’s a lifeline.
When you give to ISMS, you provide critical support to survivors of murder-suicide as they navigate trauma, grief, and the stigma that often follows. Your generosity helps offer safe spaces, healing resources, and community. Together, we can raise awareness, restore hope, and remind survivors they are not alone.