The new 28-year-dated Virginia cop just who murdered about three family members off a Riverside teen had posed on line as the an adolescent so you can “groom” the brand new 15-year-old woman, the fresh new Riverside Cops Service said Wednesday.

Austin Lee Edwards portrayed himself since the an excellent 17-year-dated when you’re communicating online for the woman, using “grooming” procedures, that will tend to be plans for example requesting otherwise offering sexually explicit photographs, delivering gift suggestions and you will providing compliments, Riverside Police Master Larry Gonzalez said during the a news conference.

Gonzalez said it is still around research how long this new electronic relationship anywhere between Edwards in addition to teen lady went down and you may just what system it used to see or show, but investigators trust those who are regular exploitative suggestions for “sextortion” were chosen for this situation.

‘Catfishing’ cop pretended to get 17, ‘groomed’ California lady before destroying this lady loved ones, next himself

“It is a new horrific reminder of your predators present online exactly who victimize our youngsters,” he said. “If you’ve already had this talk with your children about how exactly become safer on the internet and on the social network, excite obtain it once more. If you don’t, begin it today to better manage her or him .”

Cops trust Edwards, who had been a newly bound-in-law administration administrator inside outlying southwest Virginia, linked to the newest teen woman on line from the “catfishing” – acting to get individuals he isn’t. Then drove nationwide to their home inside Riverside, where the guy killed the lady mother and you will grand-parents and put flames to help you our home, in advance of driving regarding into lady.

Their car try afterwards averted during the San Bernardino State, in which bodies 1st told you he had been murdered in the a good shootout that have cops, nevertheless the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Company announced Wednesday which he died out of a home-inflicted gunshot wound.

Catfishing a lady, eliminating the girl household members: To the Virginia cop’s alleged Ca rampage

Police state a cop regarding Virginia proceeded a horrifying rampage Tuesday into the Riverside, catfishing an adolescent woman, following killing the lady mother and you may grandparents.

The 3 household members killed had been recognized as Mark Winek, 69, a long time baseball and you will softball coach during the Arlington High-school; their spouse, Sharie Winek, 65, a dedicated mommy and you will granny; as well as their girl, Brooke Winek, 38, just one mom from a couple of adolescent girls – including the girl controlled of the Edwards. All of them existed with her on the Riverside home.

“That it horrific skills become with unsuitable on the web love ranging from an excellent predator and a child,” Michelle Blandin told you thanks to tears Wednesday, the actual only real surviving child out of Mark and Sharie Winek. “The guy got a keen oath to guard, yet , he didn’t get it done. Alternatively, he preyed toward extremely vulnerable.”

Brand new Virginia manager just who turned up in the Wineks’ domestic Tuesday got completed the police academy this past 12 months, according to Virginia police, together with been recently leased once the good patrol deputy having an excellent county Sheriff’s Work environment merely 10 months prior to his rampage during the Riverside.

If you are Blandin mentioned that Edwards attempted to kidnap the woman niece, Riverside police officials said they may not be but really discussing the brand new communications because the an abduction, because they’re nonetheless brushing using bodily and electronic research, trying see if she are coerced otherwise endangered to obtain to your Edwards’ vehicle.

Yet not, Riverside police spokesperson Ryan Railsback told you there’s absolutely no signal the latest teenager girl was mixed up in killings otherwise flames. The guy told you new teen moved towards the vehicles which have Edwards once the our home was already on fire.

“Within tragic second of one’s household members, our very own grief, develop particular goodwill come from so it,” Blandin said. “Moms and dads, excite, delight know your kid’s on the internet hobby. Seek advice on what they’re performing and you will exactly who he could be talking to; anyone can say they truly are someone else. . If the something similar to that it horrific disaster may seem here in our very own community within society, it will happen anyplace.”