The new 28-year-dated Virginia policeman just who slain about three nearest and dearest of an effective Riverside teenager had posed on line just like the a teenager to help you “groom” new fifteen-year-old lady, the fresh new Riverside Cops Institution said Wednesday.
Austin Lee Edwards represented himself since good 17-year-old when you are communicating on the internet towards the lady, having fun with “grooming” tips, which can tend to be methods such as for example asking for or offering sexually explicit photographs, providing merchandise and you can giving compliments, Riverside Cops Master Larry Gonzalez said within a news conference.
Gonzalez told you it’s still significantly less than data how much time this new digital relationships ranging from Edwards additionally the adolescent girl transpired and you will exactly what platform they always meet or promote, but investigators trust those who are regular exploitative tricks for “sextortion” were chosen for this case.
“This will be a special Probeer de website horrific note of your predators existing online whom victimize our kids,” he told you. “If you’ve currently got that it conversation together with your kids how to-be safe on the internet and on social networking, delight get it again. If you don’t, initiate it now to raised manage them.”
Cops faith Edwards, who was simply a newly sworn-in law administration administrator in outlying southwestern Virginia, related to the fresh new teenager woman on line by the “catfishing” – pretending to get individuals he isn’t. Then he drove nationwide to help you the lady domestic within the Riverside, where the guy slain the lady mom and you will grand-parents and place flame so you can the house, ahead of driving out of for the girl.
His vehicles was after prevented when you look at the San Bernardino Condition, where bodies initially told you he was killed inside the an excellent shootout which have cops, although San Bernardino Condition Sheriff’s Service established Wednesday which he died regarding a personal-inflicted gunshot wound.
Catfishing a woman, destroying her household members: To the Virginia cop’s alleged California rampage
Cops say a policeman out of Virginia went on a horrifying rampage Tuesday within the Riverside, catfishing an adolescent woman, then killing her mother and you will grand-parents.
The 3 friends murdered have been recognized as Mark Winek, 69, a longtime baseball and you can softball advisor on Arlington Twelfth grade; their wife, Sharie Winek, 65, a loyal mother and you may grandma; and their daughter, Brooke Winek, 38, just one mother from a couple adolescent females – like the girl controlled by Edwards. Each of them lived with her on the Riverside home.
“That it horrifying feel started having not the right on line relationship anywhere between a good predator and you can a young child,” Michelle Blandin said thanks to rips Wednesday, really the only surviving daughter away from Draw and you will Sharie Winek. “He got an enthusiastic oath to safeguard, yet , the guy didn’t take action. Instead, the guy preyed towards extremely vulnerable.”
Brand new Virginia officer whom showed up in the Wineks’ household Monday got done the authorities academy the 2009 seasons, centered on Virginia police, along with been freshly hired as a great patrol deputy that have good state Sheriff’s Work environment merely ten months ahead of his rampage when you look at the Riverside.
When you’re Blandin asserted that Edwards made an effort to kidnap the lady niece, Riverside police officials said they are not but really discussing new communications as an enthusiastic abduction, because they’re still brushing as a result of actual and you will digital research, trying to discover whether or not she was coerced otherwise endangered to track down with the Edwards’ auto.
‘Catfishing’ cop pretended as 17, ‘groomed’ Ca lady before destroying the girl family members, upcoming themselves
However, Riverside cops spokesperson Ryan Railsback told you there isn’t any signal the newest teenager woman try active in the killings otherwise flame. He said the brand new adolescent moved to the automobile having Edwards because the the house was already ablaze.
“In this tragic moment in our members of the family, the grief, develop particular goodwill are from so it,” Blandin told you. “Parents, excite, please understand your kid’s on line hobby. Seek advice on which these include undertaking and you may who he’s talking to; you can now say they’re someone else. . If something such as this horrific tragedy can happen in our very own community in our society, it does happen anywhere.”