This new twenty eight-year-old Virginia policeman exactly who murdered around three family unit members of a beneficial Riverside adolescent had posed online given that an adolescent so you can “groom” the latest fifteen-year-old girl, brand new Riverside Police Service told you Wednesday.
Austin Lee Edwards portrayed himself since an effective 17-year-old if you find yourself communicating online on girl, having fun with “grooming” actions, that can become tactics particularly asking for otherwise giving intimately explicit photographs, taking gift ideas and providing comments, Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said at a news conference.
Gonzalez told you it’s still below analysis how long the new electronic matchmaking anywhere between Edwards and the teenager lady transpired and you may what platform they accustomed satisfy otherwise display, but investigators believe many of those typical exploitative techniques for “sextortion” were used in this case.
“This is a special horrifying reminder of predators established on line whom prey on our youngsters,” the guy said. “If you’ve currently had which discussion with your babies about precisely how are safe online and with the social network, excite have it again. If you don’t, begin it now to raised protect him or her.”
Cops believe Edwards, who was a recently bound-in law administration manager when you look at the outlying southwestern Virginia, linked to the fresh teenager girl online of the “catfishing” – pretending to get some one he isn’t. He then drove nationwide to the lady family during the Riverside, where he killed their mom and grandparents and set fire so you can the home, just before operating regarding into lady.
Their automobile is actually later averted from inside the San Bernardino County, where bodies initially said he was killed during the a beneficial shootout with cops, but the San Bernardino Condition Sheriff’s Agency revealed Wednesday he died regarding a personal-inflicted latinomeetup profielen gunshot injury.
Catfishing a female, killing the woman family relations: Inside Virginia cop’s alleged California rampage
Police say a policeman off Virginia went on a horrifying rampage Tuesday for the Riverside, catfishing a teenager lady, next killing her mommy and you may grandparents.
The 3 family relations slain have been defined as Draw Winek, 69, a longtime baseball and you may softball coach at Arlington High-school; their partner, Sharie Winek, 65, a dedicated mommy and you may grandma; and their daughter, Brooke Winek, 38, one mom away from a couple teenage girls – like the woman controlled from the Edwards. Each of them stayed together with her on the Riverside domestic.
“This horrific enjoy become that have not the right online relationship ranging from a great predator and you may children,” Michelle Blandin told you owing to tears Wednesday, truly the only surviving child of Draw and you may Sharie Winek. “The guy grabbed an enthusiastic oath to protect, yet he don’t do it. Alternatively, the guy preyed with the extremely vulnerable.”
Brand new Virginia officer exactly who turned up at the Wineks’ household Saturday had finished the authorities academy this past season, based on Virginia police, along with started freshly rented once the an excellent patrol deputy that have an excellent state Sheriff’s Work environment merely 10 days before their rampage inside Riverside.
When you find yourself Blandin said that Edwards attempted to kidnap the woman relative, Riverside cops authorities said they’re not yet outlining the latest telecommunications once the an enthusiastic abduction, as they are however brushing thanks to actual and you may digital facts, looking to learn if she are coerced otherwise threatened discover into the Edwards’ car.
‘Catfishing’ cop pretended becoming 17, ‘groomed’ California woman prior to eliminating her relatives, after that himself
However, Riverside police representative Ryan Railsback said there’s no sign the latest adolescent lady was involved in the killings or flame. He told you the newest teenager walked into automobile which have Edwards because the the house was already ablaze.
“Inside tragic moment your nearest and dearest, all of our despair, develop particular goodwill come from that it,” Blandin told you. “Parents, delight, delight discover your son or daughter’s online activity. Seek advice on what these include doing and exactly who he could be talking to; you can now say they truly are someone else. . If something similar to it horrifying tragedy can happen here in all of our people within area, it does happens anywhere.”