Investigators revealed on Sunday that the Virginia lawman who killed three family members in Riverside on Friday had formed an internet romance with a juvenile girl who was the victims’ granddaughter and daughter under false pretenses,

According to Riverside police, those deceased on Friday included Mark Winek, 69, his wife Sharie Winek, 65, and their daughter Brooke Winek, 38.

After the murders and an arson fire at the victims’ home, the suspect and the adolescent fled, but they were caught that night and the suspect was killed in a gunfight with law police in the Mojave Desert. The juvenile girl managed to flee the gunfight unscathed.

Authorities identified the suspect as 28-year-old Austin Lee Edwards of North Chesterfield, Virginia. When Edwards was recently employed by the Virginia Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Riverside detectives discovered he had previously worked for the Virginia State Police.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, instead of Needles as earlier reported, Edwards and the youngster were found by San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies traveling in the suspect’s red Kia Soul in the desert town of Kelso. SWAT stopped Edwards’ car at Kelso Cima Road. Edwards fired at deputies while they were being pursued. As the chase came to a conclusion, Edwards lost control and veered off the road. Before Edwards was killed in the gunfight, deputies managed to save the teen girl who had escaped, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

According to authorities, the precise cause and manner of their deaths are still under investigation. They added that it appeared the fire at their home on Friday was deliberately started. The bodies of the victims were eventually discovered as a result of that fire.

The teen girl who managed to flee the scene of the desert chase unscathed and was subsequently taken into the care of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, according to Riverside police.

Funeral arrangements will be revealed by the family. The family and loved ones will share details about the obituary, funeral, and life celebration at the appropriate time. We will do our best to keep you updated on them.

Thanks for reading from Ghsplash a news publishing website from Ghana. Share this article, For spelling mistakes and other related issues contact us