‘Catfishing’ cop pretended are 17, ‘groomed’ California girl prior to eliminating this lady family relations, then himself

This new twenty-eight-year-dated Virginia cop which killed three family from a great Riverside teenager got posed on the web just like the an adolescent to help you “groom” the fresh fifteen-year-old lady, this new Riverside Police Agencies said Wednesday.

Austin Lee Edwards portrayed themselves because the a great 17-year-old while communication on the web on the lady, having fun with “grooming” procedures, that will were tactics instance asking for otherwise providing intimately specific photographs, taking gift suggestions and providing comments, Riverside Cops Captain Larry Gonzalez said at a press conference.

Gonzalez told you it’s still around study just how long new electronic relationship ranging from Edwards and the teen lady took place and you may what platform it used to meet or share, but investigators trust many of those typical exploitative strategies for “sextortion” were chosen for this example.

‘Catfishing’ cop pretended become 17, ‘groomed’ California girl just before destroying her family unit members, up coming himself

“This will be a special horrific note of the predators existing online exactly who prey on our youngsters,” the guy told you. “If you’ve currently got this dialogue along with your children how is secure online and into the social network, please obtain it once more. Or even, start they now to raised manage him or her.”

Cops believe Edwards, who was simply a freshly sworn-in law administration officer during the rural southwestern Virginia, regarding new teen lady on the web because of the “catfishing” – pretending to get anybody he’s not. Then drove all over the country to her family during the Riverside, in which the guy murdered the girl mom and you can grand-parents and put flames in order to the house, just before riding off towards girl.

His automobile is later averted when you look at the San Bernardino State, in which government initially told you he had been slain inside the a shootout having police, although San Bernardino Condition Sheriff’s Company announced Wednesday he passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot injury.

Catfishing a woman, destroying their family unit members: In to the Virginia cop’s alleged Ca rampage

Police say a policeman out-of Virginia went on a horrifying rampage Tuesday during the Riverside, catfishing a teen woman, then destroying this lady mother and you may grandparents.

The three household members murdered was identified as Draw Winek, 69, a long time baseball and you can softball advisor during the Arlington Twelfth grade; his partner, Sharie Winek, 65, a dedicated mother and you may granny; and their child, Brooke Winek, 38, just one mommy off several teenage female – like the lady manipulated because of the Edwards. All of them existed together regarding Riverside domestic.

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“This horrific enjoy started having an inappropriate on the internet relationship anywhere between an excellent predator and you can a child,” Michelle Blandin told you as a result of rips Wednesday, the only real thriving girl regarding Mark and you will Sharie Winek. “He got an enthusiastic oath to safeguard, yet he failed to exercise. Alternatively, he preyed into most vulnerable.”

The Virginia administrator who showed up at the Wineks’ home Friday had accomplished law enforcement academy earlier this seasons, based on Virginia police force, together with been freshly rented as the an excellent patrol deputy with an effective county Sheriff’s Work environment merely 10 months prior to his rampage from inside the Riverside.

When you’re Blandin asserted that Edwards tried to kidnap the woman niece, Riverside police officials told you they aren’t but really explaining the brand new correspondence given that an abduction, because they’re however brushing due to actual and you may digital facts, trying to see whether or not she is actually coerced or threatened to obtain to the Edwards’ car.

not, Riverside police spokesperson Ryan Railsback told you there is absolutely no signal the new adolescent girl try mixed up in killings otherwise fire. The guy told you brand new teen stepped for the automobile that have Edwards due to the fact our house has already been burning.

“Within tragic minute of our own family, the despair, we hope certain goodwill are from that it,” Blandin said. “Moms and dads, excite, excite learn your son or daughter’s on the internet hobby. Inquire on what they have been performing and whom they are speaking to; anyone can say they truly are other people. . In the event the something like so it horrific tragedy can take place here in all of our community in our people, it does happens anywhere.”