The latest 28-year-dated Virginia cop who murdered around three family members off an effective Riverside adolescent got posed online while the an adolescent so you’re able to “groom” the brand new 15-year-old girl, the Riverside Cops Company told you Wednesday.
Austin Lee Edwards illustrated themselves while the good 17-year-dated while communication on the web on the girl, playing with “grooming” steps, that become methods such asking for or offering sexually explicit pictures, getting presents and you may providing comments, Riverside Cops Head Larry Gonzalez said during the a news conference.
Gonzalez told you it’s still around research just how long the fresh digital relationship anywhere between Edwards additionally the adolescent lady took place and you can just what platform it used to meet otherwise express, but investigators trust many of those regular exploitative techniques for “sextortion” were used in this case.
‘Catfishing’ cop pretended to be 17, ‘groomed’ California woman just before destroying the lady family relations, up coming themselves
“That is a separate horrific reminder of the predators established on line whom prey on our youngsters,” the guy told you. “If you have currently got which dialogue along with your kids precisely how to be safer online and to the social networking, excite obtain it again. Or even, start they now to raised include them.”
Police faith Edwards, who had been a recently sworn-in-law enforcement administrator in outlying southwestern Virginia, linked to new adolescent girl online of the “catfishing” – pretending to be anybody he’s not. Then he drove across the country to this lady domestic from inside the Riverside, in which the guy slain the girl mom and you can grand-parents and set flame so you can the home, ahead of operating regarding towards lady.
His vehicles is actually later eliminated into the San Bernardino State, in which authorities very first said he was killed in the a great shootout with cops, nevertheless San Bernardino State Sheriff’s Company established Wednesday that he passed away away from a self-inflicted gunshot injury.
Catfishing a woman, destroying the girl relatives: Into the Virginia cop’s alleged Ca rampage
Cops say a cop off Virginia proceeded a horrific rampage Friday in Riverside, catfishing a teen woman, up coming killing their mommy and you will grandparents.
The 3 friends killed was basically identified as Draw Winek, 69, a longtime basketball and softball coach in the Arlington Twelfth grade; his spouse, Sharie Winek, 65, a devoted mother and you will grandmother; and their child, Brooke Winek, 38, just one mom away from a couple of adolescent lady – for instance the woman manipulated because of the Edwards. Each of them stayed with her about Riverside house.
“This horrifying experience started with not the right online relationship ranging from a beneficial predator and you may a young child,” Michelle Blandin told you as a consequence of tears Wednesday, truly the female escort in Stamford CT only thriving child away from Mark and you may Sharie Winek. “He got an enthusiastic oath to safeguard, yet he don’t exercise. Alternatively, he preyed into the really vulnerable.”
The Virginia manager who arrived during the Wineks’ household Monday had finished the authorities academy earlier this 12 months, considering Virginia police, and had become freshly rented as an effective patrol deputy that have an effective condition Sheriff’s Place of work just 10 days before his rampage inside the Riverside.
While Blandin asserted that Edwards made an effort to kidnap the woman relative, Riverside cops authorities said they aren’t but really detailing the fresh interaction just like the a keen abduction, since they’re still combing compliment of physical and you may digital facts, trying to learn whether or not she is coerced otherwise endangered discover for the Edwards’ vehicle.
But not, Riverside cops spokesperson Ryan Railsback told you there’s no indication the new teenager girl is mixed up in killings or flame. The guy told you the latest adolescent stepped towards the vehicle which have Edwards once the the house has already been burning.
“Within this tragic second in our family members, our despair, we hope some goodwill are from that it,” Blandin said. “Parents, excite, delight understand your kid’s on the web interest. Inquire on what they’re doing and just who he is speaking to; anyone can state they are other people. . If something such as it horrific disaster can take place within all of our society in our people, it will happens anywhere.”