The fresh twenty-eight-year-old Virginia cop who murdered around three family unit members regarding a Riverside adolescent had presented on line given that a teenager so you’re able to “groom” the new fifteen-year-old girl, the brand new Riverside Cops Service told you Wednesday.

Austin Lee Edwards portrayed himself given that good 17-year-old when you find yourself communication on the web with the girl, playing with “grooming” actions, that can were plans such as asking for otherwise giving intimately explicit photos, bringing gift suggestions and you will providing comments, Riverside Cops Master Larry Gonzalez told you from the a press conference.

Gonzalez told you it’s still less than studies the length of time the digital matchmaking ranging from Edwards while the adolescent woman transpired and you may what program it familiar with see or share, however, investigators believe people normal exploitative tricks for “sextortion” were used in this case.

‘Catfishing’ policeman pretended becoming 17, ‘groomed’ California lady prior to destroying this lady loved ones, following themselves

“That is a special horrific note of the https://datingmentor.org/sugar-daddies-canada/ predators current on line whom victimize our kids,” the guy told you. “If you have already had it conversation along with your babies about precisely how to be secure on the internet and to your social networking, delight get it once more. Otherwise, begin they now to raised manage them.”

Cops believe Edwards, who had been a freshly pledged-in-law enforcement manager from inside the rural southwest Virginia, regarding the teen girl on the internet by “catfishing” – pretending to-be anybody he isn’t. Then he drove all over the country in order to her family when you look at the Riverside, in which the guy slain this lady mom and you can grand-parents and set flame to help you the house, ahead of operating out of to the woman.

Their vehicle was later on eliminated into the San Bernardino State, in which bodies very first told you he was slain into the an effective shootout having cops, nevertheless the San Bernardino State Sheriff’s Service announced Wednesday which he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Catfishing a woman, killing this lady family unit members: Into the Virginia cop’s so-called Ca rampage

Police say a cop from Virginia proceeded a horrific rampage Monday into the Riverside, catfishing a teen girl, up coming destroying the girl mommy and you may grand-parents.

The three family unit members killed was in fact recognized as Draw Winek, 69, a longtime basketball and you may softball coach in the Arlington Twelfth grade; his girlfriend, Sharie Winek, 65, a faithful mother and grandmother; and their child, Brooke Winek, 38, an individual mother from two adolescent female – such as the girl controlled from the Edwards. Each of them resided along with her regarding the Riverside home.

“That it horrifying skills come having not the right on line love ranging from a good predator and you may a kid,” Michelle Blandin said owing to rips Wednesday, the actual only real thriving child out-of Mark and you may Sharie Winek. “He took an enthusiastic oath to guard, yet he did not do it. Alternatively, the guy preyed on extremely insecure.”

The newest Virginia officer who turned up at the Wineks’ domestic Tuesday had accomplished the police academy the 2009 year, according to Virginia police force, along with started freshly leased due to the fact a great patrol deputy having a county Sheriff’s Office just ten months just before his rampage inside the Riverside.

While you are Blandin asserted that Edwards tried to kidnap the woman niece, Riverside cops authorities told you they are certainly not but really outlining this new communication just like the an enthusiastic abduction, as they are however brushing using bodily and you may digital evidence, seeking to discover if or not she was coerced otherwise endangered locate for the Edwards’ auto.

However, Riverside cops representative Ryan Railsback told you there is no indication the brand new teenager woman try mixed up in killings or flames. He told you brand new teenager went to the automobile having Edwards as the the house has already been ablaze.

“Inside tragic minute in our family relations, all of our grief, develop particular goodwill come from this,” Blandin told you. “Parents, excite, please learn your kid’s on the web hobby. Inquire about what these include performing and you will who they are speaking to; you can now say they’ve been someone else. . When the something similar to which horrific problem can take place within our neighborhood within area, it will happens anyplace.”