Mystery deepens as friends reveal 'catfish' killer's movements before murdering teen's family
Darkest Mysteries Online - The Strange and Unusual Podcast 202412 Dec 2022

Mystery deepens as friends reveal 'catfish' killer's movements before murdering teen's family

Mystery deepens as friends reveal 'catfish' killer's movements before murdering teen's family

The former Virginia trooper accused of killing three members of a California family after “catfishing” their teenage relative drove to the state to visit a longtime girlfriend days before the triple homicide, a close friend of the ex-trooper said in an exclusive interview with NBC News.

The friend, Tommy Gates, declined to identify the girlfriend but said the two had met online. He believed she was two to three years younger than Austin Edwards, 28. A home that Edwards recently purchased in Saltville, in southwestern Virginia, was intended for the two of them, he said.

Edwards had been dating the woman for at least five years, a second close friend said in a text.

The trip raises new questions in the horrific case, including what plans Edwards made in the days and weeks before arriving in Riverside, east of Los Angeles, where he was accused of killing a single mother and her parents, and then driving off with the woman's 15-year-old daughter on Nov. 25 as their house burned.

In interviews, people who knew Edwards struggled to comprehend how he could have carried out the crimes. A woman who’d gone to community college with him and remained his friend was hospitalized under the weight of what her father described as crushing guilt.

“If she could have seen it, she could have done something to stop it,” said the woman's father, Rodney Shortridge. His daughter declined to comment.

Gates, 27, said he learned of the trip to California from Edwards’ father the day after the killings, when the father believed his son was missing, Gates said. Efforts to reach Edwards’ family have been unsuccessful.

Gates wasn’t sure where in California the girlfriend lived but said her home was not in Riverside, where the killings occurred.

Asked about the visit, Ryan Railsback, spokesman for the Riverside Police Department, said Thursday that investigators were trying to figure out Edwards’ plans but declined to comment further.

It isn’t clear what connection, if any, the trip had to a "catfishing" scheme in which authorities believe Edwards posed as a 17-year-old to interact with the 15-year-old girl. Gates said he didn't know about the alleged scheme.

"None of us had any idea," said the second close friend, who asked not to be identified because he feared association with Edwards.

Authorities have identified the victims as Brooke Winek, 38; Mark Winek, 69; and Sharie Winek, 65. Their cause of death has not been released. The teenage girl was not injured. Edwards died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Railsback said.

Speaking to reporters late last month, a family member of the Wineks, Mychelle Blandin, described her sister Brooke as a devoted single mom doing her best to raise her two children; her father, Mark, as a high school baseball and softball coach "with a big caring heart;" and her mother, Sharie, the matriarch of the family, who "did anything and everything for anyone.

"They are forever in my heart and I miss them deeply," she said, adding: "We have some solace that this person will never harm anyone again, especially a minor."

A 'spontaneous' trip
Edwards had traveled to California because he had some vacation time for Thanksgiving, the second close friend of Edwards said.

He "decided to up and go see her since he had just enough time to drive there and back before he had to work the following Monday,” said the friend.

It was Edwards’ first visit to meet the girlfriend, whom he often played League of Legends and Minecraft with, Gates said.

Neither Gates nor the second friend knew about the trip ahead of time, a move Gates described as unusual. The second friend said he learned of it from Edwards' father after Edwards didn't let him know he was heading home.

Believing Edwards was missing, his friends reached out to his girlfriend, Gates said.

In a text message with the second close friend, the girlfriend described Edwards' trip as "spontaneous" and said everything had gone well, the second friend said.

"Nothing was unusual to her about his mannerisms or anything like that," he said.

To Gates, this made what happened next that much more awful and perplexing.

“I’m angry, obviously,” Gates said. “He’s my buddy, my best friend. Before all this, he was one of the people I would have done almost anything for. How could he ever do something like this?”

Planning for the future
The last time Gates saw Edwards was in early October, when he visited him in the Richmond area. Edwards, who’d graduated from the Virginia State Police academy in January, was working as a trooper in a county that surrounds the state’s capital city, the agency said.

The two went to a Renaissance festival in Maryland and Edwards seemed “as happy as could be — openly,” Gates said. “I don’t know what was in his heart and mind. But to other people he was acting cheery and happy.”

Before joining the academy, Edwards had dropped out of high school in Richlands, in southwestern Virginia, and earned his GED, Gates said. He worked at Walmart and Lowe’s, according to Gates. In 2017, he attended Southwest Virginia Community College, earning no certificates or degrees, a school spokesman said.

Shortridge, whose daughter also worked with Edwards at Walmart, recalled hosting a comic-con type event that Edwards attended and talking about his future with him.

“He was lower in the income level than your average people around here,” said Shortridge, a retired trucker who lives in nearby Tazewell. “Austin said that’s why he wanted to find a good job, to help his family out of poverty. I was like, man — I respect the hell out of that.”

Signs of trouble
In high school and several years after, Edwards was prone to bouts of depression, Gates said. In 2016 he was detained for a psychiatric hold after he threatened to kill his father, according to a police report obtained by the Los Angeles Times. According to Gates, Edwards hurt himself with a hatchet.

"He was going through a hard time," Gates said. "He really snapped that night."

Gates wasn't aware if Edwards had had other run-ins with law enforcement, and he said he'd been remorseful about the incident with his father.

After the killings, Virginia State Police said it found no "indicators of concern" in a background check for Edwards. After the Los Angeles Times article was published, the department said Wednesday that "human error resulted in an incomplete database query" during his hiring process.

“Although we believe this to be an isolated incident, steps are currently underway to ensure the error is not repeated going forward,” the department said.

The statement didn't mention the police report cited by the Los Angeles Times or provide additional details. NBC News has not confirmed the details of the report.

Chuck Russo, a criminal justice professor at American Public University System and former law enforcement officer who conducted background checks for two Florida agencies for nearly a decade, said the person doing the state police investigation may have forgotten to check the correct box in a management system or failed to reach out to the agency for a records check.

Russo described the human error as a "huge black eye" for authorities. He also called on the sheriff’s office in Washington County, where Edwards worked after he resigned from the state police, to publicly state it is reviewing hiring practices.

The sheriff, Blake Andis, has not responded to requests for comment.

'He took an oath to protect'
Edwards quit his post as a Virginia State Police trooper on Oct. 28 — 10 months after he graduated from the academy. He wanted to move back to southwestern Virginia, where he could be closer to friends and family, Gates said.

With savings and money that Gates believes Edwards obtained from a loan — and a goal of bringing his girlfriend east — he bought a home sight unseen for nearly $80,000 in Saltville.

Gates said he'd heard the girlfriend discuss the move to Virginia when he was with Edwards who had placed a call with her on speaker phone.

"He'd finally gotten his dream setup and had everything lined up to have the best life," he said. "Why would he want to end it all of a sudden?"

After Edwards moved in on Nov. 14, he covered the windows with what Jacob Gordon, who had sold him the house, described as tint that was likely from an auto shop. He also hung blackout curtains, Gordon said.

Gordon said he didn't know why Edwards had darkened his windows. Gates, who hadn't visited the house but planned to, didn't know what to make of it either.

"It's strange for him," he said. "He liked his privacy but he never did anything like that."

Railsback said Friday that authorities had still not analyzed the items recovered from Edwards' home.

Gates learned of the killings and alleged catfishing from news coverage. Initially, he said he didn't believe it. But as the story developed, and more details were released, he said he came to acknowledge that his best friend had likely done something horrific — even if he couldn't square the man he'd known for years with the criminal described by the victims' family member, Mychelle Blandin.

"This horrific event started with an inappropriate online romance between a predator and a child,” Blandin said, adding: "He took an oath to protect and yet he failed to do so. Instead, he preyed on the most vulnerable."

Mystery deepens as friends reveal catfish killer's movements before murdering teen's family

True Crime Podcast 2022 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls Virginia trooper True Police

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

Avsnitt(1000)

A Mystery of Missing 411 in Yosemite You Will Not Believe

A Mystery of Missing 411 in Yosemite You Will Not Believe

A Mystery of Missing 411 in Yosemite You Will Not BelieveMissing 411 #horrorstories #missing411 #scary #shortsvideo #viral #trending #shorts #short #asmrJourney into the heart of mystery with Missing 411. Yosemite National Park's serene beauty belies a perplexing enigma – over the decades, nearly 40 individuals have vanished without a trace within its breathtaking expanse. From vibrant youths to seasoned hikers, the unexplained nature of their disappearances raises chilling questions. Join us on this expedition as we delve deep into the unknown, confronting shadows, unraveling enigmas, and seeking to unveil the truth behind these perplexing vanishings. 🌲🔍 missing411 #YosemiteMysteries The Dark Web Vlogs l They Call Me The Ghost The outrageous and unbelievable happening in our world, in story format. Join the conversation!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

17 Aug 202358min

Park Ranger's Scariest Supernatural Encounters In The Woods

Park Ranger's Scariest Supernatural Encounters In The Woods

Park Ranger's Scariest Supernatural Encounters In The Woodspark ranger stories,creepy pasta,scary park ranger stories,missing 411,park rangers scariest supernatural encounters in the woods,park ranger stories true,park ranger stories swamp dweller,park ranger stories reddit,park ranger stories scary,missing 411 david paulides,missing 411 yosemite national park,true park ranger stories,missing 411 stories,missing 411 the hunted,park ranger stories mr creeps,park ranger stories corpse husband,true scary stories 2023Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

17 Aug 20234h 28min

'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died FULL AUDIO

'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died FULL AUDIO

'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died FULL AUDIOPolice released disturbing audio of an Arkansas woman who called for help in the final moments of her life, drowning in her car, only to be met with mockery and disdain by the dispatcher.Debbie Stevens, 47, was on her regular paper route in Fort Smith Saturday, Aug. 24 when a flash flood swept up her car. Panicking, she dialed 911."Please help me, I don't want to die!", Stevens begs on the call that lasted 22 minutes. "I can't swim! I'm scared! I'm going to drown!"The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks earlier according to the Fort Smith Police Department, replied flippantly telling her authorities will get there when they get there and that she's not going to die, at one point telling her to "shut up."As the water slowly filled Stevens' SUV, she responded: "I'm scared. I've never had anything happen to me like this before."Stevens pleaded for help and prayer but received a lecture: "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water," Reneau responds. "I don't see how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it, so."Authorities responded to the scene 12 minutes after she dialed 911, but because of the floodwaters, it took more than an hour to reach Stevens' vehicle -- and by the time police and firefighters were able to secure the car, Stevens had drowned.Fort Smith Interim Police Chief Danny Baker described Reneau's response as "calloused and uncaring at times" in a statement, but he added to KHBS that she did nothing "criminally wrong" nor "violated policy.""I completely understand the disgust and the concern that we all have," Baker said. "We all hope that we would get a little better response."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

17 Aug 202322min

Former Oklahoma City Police Officer Daniel Holtzclaw Interrogation AUDIO (complete)

Former Oklahoma City Police Officer Daniel Holtzclaw Interrogation AUDIO (complete)

Former Oklahoma City Police Officer Daniel Holtzclaw Interrogation AUDIO (complete)Daniel Ken Holtzclaw (born December 10, 1986) is an American former Oklahoma City Police Department patrol officer who was convicted in December 2015 of multiple counts of rape, sexual battery, forcible oral sodomy, and other sexual charges.[4]Holtzclaw was convicted of eighteen counts involving eight different women. According to the police investigators, Holtzclaw abused his position as an officer by running background checks to find information that could be used to coerce victims into sex.[1] During the trial, the defense questioned the victims' credibility during cross-examination, bringing up their criminal records.[5] Of the thirteen women who accused Holtzclaw, several had criminal histories such as drug arrests, and all of them were African American.[6] The prosecution argued that victims were deliberately chosen by Holtzclaw for these reasons.[7]Holtzclaw pleaded not guilty to all charges. On December 10, 2015, he was convicted on 18 of 36 charges, and on January 21, 2016, he was sentenced to 263 years in prison.[8][9][10]Jason Flom (a founding Board Member of the Innocence Project), right-wing commentator Michelle Malkin and others have supported Holtzclaw's claims of innocence. On August 1, 2019, Holtzclaw was denied an appeal by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, which upheld both his convictions and prison sentence. The defense petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States on the basis that merging seventeen cases together "strains credulity". On March 9, 2020, the Supreme Court refused the petition.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

16 Aug 20232h 13min

Tim Jones - Confesses to Killing his Five Children Full Length Police Interrogation

Tim Jones - Confesses to Killing his Five Children Full Length Police Interrogation

Tim Jones - Confesses to Killing his Five Children Full Length Police InterrogationTim Jones confesses to killing his five children in interview audio played during trialIn an audio recording of a police interview played during the trial of Tim Jones contains his confession of killing his five children.LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - After more than three weeks of testimony, a jury has reached a verdict in the trial of Timothy Jones, Jr., a Lexington County man accused of murdering his five children in 2014.The jury concluded that Jones has been found guilty on all five counts of murder in the deaths of his children.The second phase of the proceedings is the sentencing phase and that will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday. Because the state is seeking the death penalty, the jury is now responsible for determining his punishment.The jury had four options for their verdict: guilty, guilty but mentally ill, not guilty by reason of insanity, or not guilty. Jones pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.A grand jury indicted Jones, Jr. in 2014 on five counts of murder in the deaths of his children – Mera, 8; Elias, 7; Nahtahn, 6; Gabriel, 2; and Abigail, 1. For Mera, Elias, Gabriel, and Abigail, the indictments state the children were killed “by means of strangulation and/or other violent means or instruments.”The bodies of the children were found in garbage bags off of a dirt road in Alabama. Jones, Jr. led authorities to the bodies after being arrested in Mississippi. Jones, who appeared to be under the influence at the time of his arrest, was questioned at the checkpoint by a Smith County, Miss. deputy about an odor of chemicals coming from his vehicle. After further investigation, the deputy found what appeared to be chemicals used to make meth and a street drug known as “Spice.” Investigators also said his Cadillac Escalade was blood-soaked and “smelled of death.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

16 Aug 202347min

Son 'boiled mom's head in pot' after 'killing parents who cut off his allowance'

Son 'boiled mom's head in pot' after 'killing parents who cut off his allowance'

Son 'boiled mom's head in pot' after 'killing parents who cut off his allowance'WARNING GRAPHIC DETAILS Joel Guy Jr is accused of murdering dad Joel Snr and mum Lisa and trying to dissolve their bodies in the "house of horrors" in Tennessee after they told him they'd stop supporting him financiallyA son brutally murdered his parents before dismembering them and boiling his mum's head on a stove, a court heard.Shocked investigators were confronted with a "diabolical stew of human remains" at the home of Joel Guy Snr and his wife Lisa.Joel Guy Jr allegedly use acid to try and dissolve his mum and dad's remains after stabbing them to death in the House of Horrors.Stunned investigators discovered Lisa's head boiling in a pot, and Joel Snr's severed hands on his bedroom floor.Both their torsos were found wrapped in plastic in their bathroom in Knox County in Tennessee.Prosecutors claim Guy murdered his parents the day after they refused to stop paying his bills at a Thanksgiving dinner in November 2016.He tried to use chemicals to destroy Joel Snr, 61, and 55-year-old Lisa's remains, it is alleged.The court heard the killer was told by his mum and dad that they were going to stop supporting him financially.2022true crime,true crime stories,true cri me stories podcast,true crime podcast,police interrogations,911 calls,911,true crime daily,serial killer documentary,serial killer documentary 2022,true crime documentary,true crime documentary real stories,true crime podcast 2022,true crime daily full episodes,True Crime Stories PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

15 Aug 202356min

Stephen McDaniel's First Interview with Macon police after Lauren Giddings' Murder

Stephen McDaniel's First Interview with Macon police after Lauren Giddings' Murder

Stephen McDaniel's First Interview with Macon police after Lauren Giddings' MurderStephen McDaniel's first interview with the Macon Police Department. McDaniel later pleaded guilty in the killing of Lauren Giddings, a Mercer University law student. As part of the plea deal, McDaniel was sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole in 2041.Macon police interview Stephen McDaniel after Lauren Giddings' disappearanceThis is a video of Macon police interviewing Stephen McDaniel for the first time following the disappearance of his fellow Mercer University law student, Lauren GiddingsStephen McDaniel's First Interview with Macon police after Lauren Giddings MurderTrue Crime Podcast 2023 Police Interrogations, 911 Calls and True Police Stories PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

15 Aug 20232h 1min

Armanuel Cummings Stabbing Death of 5-Month Pregnant Girlfriend Police Interrogation

Armanuel Cummings Stabbing Death of 5-Month Pregnant Girlfriend Police Interrogation

Armanuel Cummings Stabbing Death of 5-Month Pregnant Girlfriend Police InterrogationA Jacksonville man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the stabbing death of his pregnant girlfriend.In April 2017, D'Anna Thorn, 29, who was five-months pregnant, was stabbed to death in her Brentwood home.Jacksonville homicide detectives arrested her boyfriend, Armanuel Nathaniel Cummings, 38, right away. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder.The 29-year-old mother of three was five-months pregnant when she was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend in his Jacksonville home.The unborn child and mother died at the hospital.Neighbors said they heard the couple arguing that nightBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/darkest-mysteries-online-the-strange-and-unusual-podcast-2024--5684156/support.

14 Aug 202327min

Populärt inom Fiction

thrillerpodden
sista-samtalet
pratkoma
edgar-allan-poes-skrackvarld
konspirationsteorier
skrackstunden
sexnoveller-deluxe
rss-konspirationsteorier
erotiska-berattelser
storytime
midnattstaget-creepypastor-fran-internet
rss-nattskiftet
rss-creepypastaradion
rss-p3-serie
fangelsehalan
p3-serie
tolkienpodden
karatefylla
fenomen
rss-hemligt