The new twenty-eight-year-dated Virginia cop web passion exactly who slain about three members of the family of an effective Riverside adolescent had posed online due to the fact a teen to help you “groom” the latest fifteen-year-dated girl, the Riverside Police Agencies said Wednesday.
Austin Lee Edwards portrayed himself because the a 17-year-old while communicating on the internet to your girl, using “grooming” actions, that will is ideas particularly requesting or giving sexually direct photographs, providing gifts and you may offering compliments, Riverside Cops Head Larry Gonzalez said within a press conference.
Gonzalez told you it’s still less than study the length of time the brand new electronic matchmaking anywhere between Edwards as well as the teenager woman went down and you will exactly what system it used to see otherwise show, but detectives faith many of those regular exploitative tricks for “sextortion” were chosen for this situation.
“It is a unique horrifying reminder of the predators existing online just who victimize our kids,” the guy said. “If you’ve currently got so it dialogue along with your infants on how become safer online and with the social networking, please have it once again. Otherwise, begin it today to better include them.”
Police trust Edwards, who was simply a freshly pledged-in law enforcement administrator in the rural southwest Virginia, associated with new teen girl on line by “catfishing” – pretending to-be individuals he isn’t. He then drove nationwide so you’re able to her house for the Riverside, where the guy killed their mother and grandparents and set flame in order to the house, in advance of riding from into lady.
His vehicle is actually afterwards prevented for the San Bernardino State, where regulators 1st said he was murdered from inside the a good shootout with police, nevertheless San Bernardino State Sheriff’s Company established Wednesday which he died of a home-inflicted gunshot wound.
Catfishing a woman, destroying the woman members of the family: In to the Virginia cop’s so-called Ca rampage
Police state a policeman off Virginia went on a horrific rampage Tuesday into the Riverside, catfishing a teen lady, then destroying her mother and you may grand-parents.
The three family murdered was indeed recognized as Mark Winek, 69, a long time basketball and softball coach on Arlington High school; his partner, Sharie Winek, 65, a faithful mother and you may grandma; as well as their daughter, Brooke Winek, 38, one mommy off a few teenage girls – such as the woman controlled by Edwards. All of them stayed together in the Riverside family.
“That it horrific enjoy become which have the wrong on the web relationship ranging from an excellent predator and you will a kid,” Michelle Blandin told you because of rips Wednesday, the only real surviving girl of Mark and you will Sharie Winek. “He took a keen oath to guard, but really he did not get it done. Rather, he preyed to your very insecure.”
The newest Virginia manager exactly who turned up during the Wineks’ household Friday had complete the authorities academy earlier this seasons, based on Virginia law enforcement officials, and had already been recently rented while the a beneficial patrol deputy having good county Sheriff’s Office simply ten months prior to their rampage inside the Riverside.
While you are Blandin said that Edwards attempted to kidnap this lady niece, Riverside cops officials said they are not yet explaining the brand new correspondence since the an abduction, because they are still combing due to real and you will electronic evidence, seeking to discover if she are coerced or endangered to obtain into the Edwards’ car.
‘Catfishing’ policeman pretended is 17, ‘groomed’ Ca woman just before eliminating the lady nearest and dearest, next themselves
But not, Riverside police representative Ryan Railsback said there’s absolutely no signal new adolescent woman is mixed up in killings otherwise flames. The guy told you the newest teen strolled towards vehicles with Edwards due to the fact our house has already been burning.
“In this tragic minute your friends, all of our suffering, develop particular goodwill come from it,” Blandin said. “Mothers, please, delight learn your son or daughter’s on the web pastime. Ask questions on what these include doing and you can whom he’s speaking to; anyone can say they have been anybody else. . If something similar to that it horrifying problem can happen in the area within society, it will happen everywhere.”