‘Catfishing’ cop pretended to get 17, ‘groomed’ California girl just before destroying the lady family unit members, after that themselves

The brand new twenty-eight-year-dated Virginia policeman which killed about three nearest and dearest off a beneficial Riverside teen had presented on the web given that a teenager to help you “groom” the fresh fifteen-year-old lady, the fresh Riverside Cops Department told you Wednesday.

Austin Lee Edwards portrayed themselves as a 17-year-dated while you are communicating on the internet into the woman, using “grooming” actions, that is projects such as requesting or giving sexually explicit photos, providing gift suggestions and you can giving compliments, Riverside Police Captain Larry Gonzalez told you from the a news conference.

Gonzalez said it’s still significantly less than study how long the latest digital dating between Edwards together with teenager lady transpired and you may exactly what system it familiar with satisfy or communicate, but detectives believe people normal exploitative methods for “sextortion” were used in this situation.

‘Catfishing’ policeman pretended to be 17, ‘groomed’ California girl in advance of killing the girl family unit members, after that themselves

“This will be another horrifying note of your predators present on the web whom victimize our children,” the guy said. “If you have currently had so it conversation along with your babies about how to be safer on the internet and to the social media, excite obtain it once more. Otherwise, initiate they now to better protect her or him.”

Cops trust Edwards, who was simply a recently pledged-in-law administration officer during the outlying southwestern Virginia, regarding the brand new teenager lady online by “catfishing” – pretending to get some body he isn’t. He then drove all over the country to her house in Riverside, in which he slain their mother and you will grandparents and put fire so you can the home, ahead of riding from to the lady.

Their auto are afterwards stopped inside the San Bernardino County, where bodies 1st told you he had been slain during the an effective shootout which have police, however the San Bernardino State Sheriff’s Department revealed Wednesday that he died out-of a home-inflicted gunshot injury.

Catfishing a girl, killing their household members: In to the Virginia cop’s alleged Ca rampage

Police say a policeman of Virginia went on a horrifying rampage Saturday inside Riverside, catfishing an adolescent lady, after that destroying this lady mom and grandparents.

The 3 family slain had been recognized as Draw Winek, 69, a longtime basketball and you may softball advisor at the Arlington High school; their wife, Sharie Winek, 65, a loyal mommy and grandma; and their daughter, Brooke Winek, 38, just one mommy of a few teenage women – such as the girl manipulated by the Edwards. Each of them resided together with her throughout the Riverside family.

“Which horrifying enjoy been with the wrong on the internet relationship anywhere between an effective predator and you can a kid,” Michelle Blandin told you as a consequence of tears Wednesday, the only enduring child regarding Draw and you can Sharie Winek. “The guy got a keen oath to safeguard, yet , he didn’t take action. As an alternative, the guy preyed on very vulnerable.”

The fresh new Virginia officer whom arrived during the Wineks’ domestic Friday got done the authorities academy earlier this season, centered on Virginia police force, along with been newly leased since a great patrol deputy that have a beneficial state Sheriff’s Workplace simply 10 months just before his rampage inside Riverside.

If you are Blandin asserted that Edwards attempted to kidnap this lady relative, Riverside cops authorities said they’re not yet , detailing the newest interaction given that an abduction, since they are still combing owing to actual and you may electronic proof, seeking discover whether she are coerced or threatened to obtain to your Edwards’ automobile.

Yet not, Riverside police representative Ryan Railsback told you there is no indication the fresh adolescent woman try involved in the killings otherwise flames. The guy told you the latest adolescent stepped into vehicle having Edwards given that the house has already been on fire.

“Inside heartbreaking minute your nearest and dearest, all of our sadness, hopefully specific goodwill come from which,” Blandin told you. “Moms and dads, excite, please learn your child’s on the web hobby. Seek advice on which they might be undertaking and you can who he could be speaking to; you can now state they might be anybody else. . If the something similar to that it horrific tragedy may seem in the community in our people, it does happens everywhere.”