The killer of three relations in Riverside on Friday was a Virginia lawman who underneath false pretenses developed an internet romantic relationship with a teen lady who was the victims’ granddaughter and daughter, investigators stated Sunday.
The suspect — who fled with the teenager after the killings and an arson fireplace on the victims’ dwelling — died in a shootout that evening with legislation enforcement within the Mojave Desert. The teenager lady escaped the shootout scene unhurt.
The suspect is Austin Lee Edwards, 28, of North Chesterfield, Virginia, authorities stated. Riverside detectives discovered Edwards had labored for the Virginia State Police till he was lately employed on the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace in Virginia.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s personnel encountered Edwards and the teenager within the suspect’s crimson Kia Soul within the desert city of Kelso — not Needles as beforehand reported, the Sheriff’s Division stated. At Kelso Cima Street, SWAT intercepted Edwards’ car. In the course of the pursuit, Edwards fired at deputies. Edwards misplaced management because the pursuit ended and he drove off the highway. The teenager feminine who had escaped was rescued by deputies earlier than Edwards died within the shootout, the Sheriff’s Division stated.
Riverside police confirmed these killed Friday had been 69-year-old Mark Winek, his spouse 65-year-old Sharie Winek and their daughter 38-year-old Brooke Winek.
The precise trigger and method of their deaths are nonetheless pending, police stated, including it appeared the fireplace at their dwelling Friday was deliberately ignited. It was that fireplace that led to the invention of the victims’ our bodies.
The teenager lady who escaped the desert pursuit scene was unhurt and later positioned into protecting custody of the Riverside County Division of Public Social Providers, Riverside police stated.
“Detectives decided Edwards had met the feminine teenager by means of the frequent type of on-line deception often known as ‘catfishing,’ the place somebody pretends to be a special individual than they really are. It's believed Edwards had developed an internet relationship with the teenager and obtained her private data,” Riverside police stated in a press release. “He traveled from Virginia to Riverside the place he parked his car in a neighbor’s driveway and walked to the teenager’s dwelling. Sooner or later, he murdered the teenager’s grandfather, grandmother and mom earlier than strolling again to his car with the teenager and leaving.”
“Our hearts exit to the Winek household and their family members throughout this time of large grief, as this can be a tragedy for all Riversiders,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez stated in a press release. “That is one more horrific reminder of the predators present on-line who prey on our kids. In case you’ve already had a dialog together with your youngsters on the best way to be secure on-line and on social media, have it once more. If not, begin it now to raised shield them.”
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Division stated that at round 1:15 p.m. Friday, deputies from the Morongo Basin Station and Sheriff’s Aviation Unit noticed the suspect’s Kia touring on Freeway 247.
“The driving force of the car, Austin Edwards, was … needed in connection to the homicides and he was believed to be armed and harmful,” a sheriff’s assertion stated, relating how sheriff’s and California Freeway Patrol aviation items adopted the Kia till SWAT might catch up. The Kia traveled south on Freeway 247, east on Freeway 62 after which to Kelso Cima Street. This space is within the desert north of the 40 Freeway and south of the 15 Freeway, east of Barstow and west of Needles.
Riverside police of their assertion famous that previous to the pursuit and the invention of the home fireplace, on the crime scene the place the Wineks died, “officers had been dispatched to test the welfare of a younger feminine who appeared distressed whereas getting right into a Pink Kia Soul with a person …” Police had been nonetheless investigating whether or not the teenager had been kidnapped.
At a vigil on Saturday evening, mourners honored the Winek relations who died within the dwelling at 11261 Value Courtroom.
The Wineks had been described as a loving household with deep connections to communities in western Riverside County.
“Mark Winek was a loving Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, and Coach at Arlington Excessive College,” organizers of a GoFundMe trying to lift $100,000 for the household wrote. “Sharie Winek was a candy and caring Mom, Grandmother, Sister, and Aunt who cherished spending time along with her household. Brooke Winek was a beloved single mom with the largest coronary heart and located her most immense pleasure in following her daughter within the Colour Guard at Arlington Excessive College.”
To the mourners gathered on Value Courtroom late Saturday evening, the Wineks had been caring associates whose violent deaths got here as a shock.
Up till the week earlier than he died, Mark Winek was a daily presence in his buddy Ron Smith’s life.
Their 30-year friendship started once they met teaching baseball at Corona Excessive College, Smith stated. From then on, Winek grew to become not solely a detailed buddy however a beloved determine within the Inland Empire highschool sports activities group – for athletes and coaches alike.
“Mark was a person who was large within the softball and baseball teaching ranks,” Smith stated, including that he was even a “well-respected coach for groups on the opposite facet.”
Smith and Winek later labored collectively at Eleanor Roosevelt Excessive College. Winek later left that job, however by means of birthdays, anniversaries, Notre Dame soccer, and residential renovations, the buddies saved in contact.
Smith was a daily on the Wineks’ Value Courtroom dwelling, and helped them transform their kitchen. Not too long ago, Smith gifted his previous buddy a signed soccer from famed College of Notre Dame soccer underdog Rudy Ruettiger.
“You'll be able to’t ask for a greater buddy than Mark,” Smith stated.
Smith stated there have been no indicators of bother earlier than the killings Friday. The one uncommon factor Smith might keep in mind was that the buddies hadn’t despatched one another Thanksgiving greetings this yr.
“It’s a shock,” Smith stated. “He’s an expensive buddy, there’s going to be a gap in my coronary heart that’s going to be exhausting to fill.”
Sheri Lazzarini, a buddy of Mark Winek’s, stated she met him when he requested to affix her softball teaching workers at La Sierra Excessive College in 1994, whereas his daughters had been attending the varsity. At La Sierra, she stated, “the children beloved him.”
She particularly remembered Winek’s dedication to sustaining the varsity’s baseball subject. He even introduced his personal garden mower to maintain the grass tidy.
After they stopped working collectively, Lazzarini stated Winek, who referred to as her “little sis,” nonetheless faithfully texted her on birthdays and holidays. She stated he was a “particular man.”
“He was a person devoted to serving to student-athletes,” Lazzarini stated. “I don’t need the legacy to be what’s occurred, as a result of he was a very particular man.”
The investigation into the triple murder was persevering with. Anybody with further and related data can contact Detective Josh Ontko at (951) 353-7135 or JOntko@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective Bryan Galbreath at (951) 353-7105 or BGalbreath@RiversideCA.gov