Man Meets Teen Online, Murders Her Mother, Grandparents Before Kidnapping Her

A man living in Virginia allegedly lured a teenager into an online relationship, traveled to California, and shot her family members before kidnapping her.

The suspect was later found inside a vehicle with the teenager and was shot dead as gunfire was exchanged with police officers. The teenager was unharmed.

Austin Lee Edwards, 28, of North Chesterfield, is accused of "catfishing" the teen girl and obtaining her personal information, following which he traveled to her home in Riverside, California, according to WTVR CBS 6 News.

Edwards reportedly parked his vehicle in a neighbor's driveway and entered the teenager's house and murdered her mother, grandmother and grandfather. He then walked back into his car and drove off with the girl.

The homicide victims were identified as 69-year-old Mark Winek, his 65-year-old wife Sharie Winek, and their 38-year-old daughter Brooke Winek, the Riverside Police Department said in a Sunday update.

Cops first got involved after being notified about a young female looking distressed while getting into a Red Kia Soul with a man.

"While officers were responding, our Public Safety Communications Center began receiving calls of a structure fire just a few houses away from where the check the welfare call originated," the police department said in a statement.

The fire department arrived at the residence and entered the house to find the three homicide victims on the ground in the front entryway.

"Their bodies were pulled outside where it was determined they were victims of an apparent homicide. Firefighters continued their efforts until the fire was placed under control and eventually extinguished," police said.

Edwards was found hours later driving with the teenager through San Bernardino County. He fired shots at deputies of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and was shot dead in the ensuing gunfire.

The teenager did not sustain any injuries. She was reportedly placed in the protective custody of the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.

"We had a grandmother, grandfather and a mother of this teen murdered by this suspect who traveled from across the country for, most likely, the sexual exploitation of this teenager," Riverside Police Department Ofc. Ryan Railsback told ABC7. "What happened here in terms of the 'catfishing' as they call it... that common practice of, you know, online deception where you're pretending to be someone else."

Edwards worked for the Virginia State Police and was recently employed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office in the state of Virginia, officials said.

The circumstances around the slain victims' deaths remain under investigation. The fire, which appeared to have been intentionally ignited, also remains under investigation, officials said.

"This is yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children," said Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez in the police department's statement. "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."