Family found slaughtered at home – police were horrified when they ID’d killer

Police found members of a family slaughtered in cold blood at their home before the killer’s identity was uncovered leaving the officers who had to hunt him down horrified

A disturbing crime left a YouTuber so disturbed that he cautioned viewers it was “almost too dark to talk about”.

Adrian Stewart presents Coffeehouse Crime, boasting 2.9million subscribers, and weekly delivers content exploring the world’s most spine-chilling cases.

He forewarned his audience they would be “beyond horrified” upon discovering the events that unfolded on the morning of November 25, 2022 in Riverside, California.

The murder investigation centred on ex-Virginia deputy Austin Lee Edwards, who had masqueraded as a 17-year-old lad for months to manipulate a 15-year-old girl.

The unsuspecting teenager communicated with the police officer via Instagram before he arrived at her family residence to brutally slaughter her mother and grandparents in cold blood. He subsequently abducted the terrified youngster before a police pursuit culminated in a dramatic finale.

Here, we revisit this chilling case and examine the ongoing repercussions that persist today.

Austin Lee Edwards

Edwards, aged 28 at the time, seemingly led a steady existence given his successful police career and recent property purchase in Saltville, Virginia.

Yet closer examination of his circumstances exposed troubling red flags, including his home’s blackened windows and documented mental health struggles.

In 2016, Edwards had inflicted self-harm with a blade, subsequently receiving treatment at a psychiatric facility before losing his firearms privileges. Despite his past, he eventually joined the ranks of the Virginia State Police and secured a new role as a sheriff’s deputy just days before he committed triple murder.

On the surface, he seemed like an ordinary employee, but no one was aware of his activities post-shift, where he would masquerade as a teenage boy to engage with girls.

He developed an obsession with a 15-year-old girl, who he showered with gifts including cash and Uber Eats deliveries.

However, the young girl was being manipulated, and when their conversations took a sexual turn, she blocked him and terminated their interaction. Edwards, who was well aware of her residence, did not take this lightly.

Triple Murder

Edwards embarked on a 40-hour drive across nearly the entire country to reach the home of the teenager he was infatuated with. She resided there with her younger sister, mother, and grandparents.

He utilised his badge to gain access to the house, then persuaded the grandparents to summon their daughter Brooke, who was out with her two daughters, to return home immediately.

The murderous officer proceeded to kill the girl’s mother, Brooke Winek, aged 38, and her grandparents, Mark and Sharie Winek, both 69.

Brooke suffered a severed spinal cord after being fatally stabbed in the neck.

He covered the bodies with bags and taped their necks, while their arms and legs were bound with duct tape, as per a chilling report in the Los Angeles Times.

The younger sister managed to flee, but Edwards aimed a weapon at the girl and commanded her: “Stop screaming.”

She identified the voice as belonging to the supposed lad she had been messaging online before he began drenching the house in petrol.

He then dragged her into the rear seat of his red Kia Soul before speeding off as residents began alerting authorities after witnessing the blaze.

One bystander observed him wrestling to force the teenager into the vehicle before providing police with a description. Emergency crews arrived to discover three bodies in the front doorway.

Officers eventually traced the registration of Edwards’ motor before, to their absolute shock, discovering they were pursuing a policeman.

Throughout the harrowing trip back to Virginia with her kidnapper, the teenage girl was compelled to grasp his hand, before events reached a dramatic climax.

Edwards discharged his weapon through the rear windscreen as police officers surrounded the vehicle before they finally cornered him.

This was the moment he instructed the girl to exit the car before turning the firearm on himself.

Conclusion

In recent years, surviving relatives, including the kidnapped teenager who lived to tell the tale, have launched numerous legal actions against law enforcement bodies, contending that Edwards should never have been allowed to serve as an officer, considering his disturbed mental state.

In his concluding remarks, Adrian expressed: “I think what really haunts me about this case is that something so simple and normal could have twisted and turned into something catastrophic. All of this came from just merely talking to someone online, which is something that millions of us do every single day.”

Following the triple homicide, Ryan Railsback from the Riverside Police Department labelled the perpetrator as: “This guy’s a monster. He’s a predator.”

He further commented: “She’s a victim because as any teenager or child, you’re vulnerable. This grown man who’s in law enforcement took advantage of that.”

Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez echoed these sentiments, describing the incident as “yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children”.

He urged parents: “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.”