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Catfish ex-cop drove 2,500 miles to find teenager before killing her family, police say

family and murderer

Austin Lee Edwards is accused of killing the triple homocide (Image: Riverside Police Department)

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A former police officer killed in a shootout is believed to have murdered a teenage girl’s grandfather, grandmother and mother after catfishing her, according to authorities. Austin Lee Edwards, 28, is believed to have met the teen by pretending to be a different person online, detectives say. He then travelled 2,491 miles - a 36-hour journey - from Virginia to California to find her.

Police believe Edwards set fire to the family’s home in the city of Riverside on the day of the deaths - before leaving with the girl in a red Kia.

The bodies of grandparents and the teenager’s mum were later found at a property.

In a news release, Riverside Police Department said a “fire on the first floor of the residence” was reported after a distress call about a “young female” getting into the car.

grandparents

Grandparents Sharie Winek, 65, and her husband Mark Winek, 69, were found dead in the house (Image: Riverside Police Department)

Firefighters found “three adult victims laying on the ground in the front entryway” upon arriving, determined to be “victims of an apparent homicide”.

Police said a preliminary investigation determined the young female lived in the house where the fire and suspected homicides occurred on November 25.

The man she had been seen accompanying just after 11am was later identified as Edwards, who is from North Chesterfield, Virginia, and previously worked for Virginia State Police. He was more recently employed at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia.

Arrest warrants were issued and Edwards was seen driving with the girl a few hours later - a few miles from her home in a nearby town.

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Brooke Winek

The teen's mum Brooke Winek, 38, was also found dead in the house (Image: Riverside Police Departmen)

“Edwards fired gunshots at deputies and a deputy-involved shooting occurred where he was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene,” the release said. “The teen was unharmed and later placed into protective custody of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.”

Detectives say Edwards met the teenager through “catfishing” - pretending to be a different person to who he actually is online - and then obtaining her personal information.

He travelled from Virginia to Riverside, located 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, where he parked his vehicle in a neighbour’s driveway, before walking to the teenager’s home.

“Our hearts go out to the family and their loved ones during this time of tremendous grief, as this is a tragedy for all Riversiders,” stated Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez.

house after fire and officers

The property had been set on fire (Image: AP)

“This is yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children. If you’ve already had a conversation with your kids on how to be safe online and on social media, have it again. If not, start it now to better protect them.”

Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis, said: "It is shocking and sad to the entire law enforcement community that such an evil and wicked person could infiltrate law enforcement while concealing his true identity as a computer predator and murderer.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, their friends, officers, and all of those affected by this heinous crime."