Lawsuit Reveals Horrific Particulars Of Police Trooper Who Catfished Teen And Killed Her Household

The Los Angeles Instances obtained a brand new lawsuit filed by the unnamed teen and her foster mom towards the property of her household’s assassin, Austin Lee Edwards, in addition to the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace in Virginia, the county’s Sheriff Blake Andis and a detective who reviewed Edwards’ employment utility.

On the time of the incident, Edwards had just lately labored for the Virginia State Police and Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace in Virginia. They’re searching for a minimum of $50 million in damages.

The victims within the case are the teenager’s mother, 38-year-old daughter Brooke Winek, and her grandparents, 69-year-old Mark Winek and 65-year-old spouse Sharie Winek. Their our bodies had been discovered inside a burning residence in Riverside, California the day after Thanksgiving in 2022.

Per the Instances, Edwards and the teenager met on Instagram that summer time, she reportedly thought he was 17 on the time and the 2 even spoke over Discord. She broke up with him after he turned too pushy and requested for nude images.

In response to the lawsuit, Edwards pretended to be a detective to achieve entry to the Wineks’ dwelling — earlier than making Sharie name her daughter Brooke and inform her to come back to the home with the teenager. Brooke informed her daughters there was merely a telephone subject that wanted to be mounted on the dwelling.

The teenager stated she was informed to attend within the automobile by her mother, noting that her mother’s canine did not come to the window after they arrived — which she discovered odd. Finally, the lady went to the entrance door — and was pulled inside the home by Edwards. At first, she did not know who he was — till he informed her to “Cease screaming” and he or she acknowledged his voice as being the identical because the particular person she met on-line.

She stated she additionally noticed the our bodies of her mother and grandparents, sure with duct tape with baggage over their heads. The teenager stated she watched as Edwards allegedly doused the house in gasoline and set the home on fireplace, earlier than forcing her into his Kia Soul.

After he stated he was taking her again to Virginia, she stated she requested why he killed her total household. Edwards responded by saying if he did not, they’d “report it” and he would not have the ability to escape. She additionally stated he informed her to fake to be his daughter.

She claimed he informed her he was a police officer who “lied” through the hiring course of, including that companies “have to do higher” background checks. The teenager stated Edwards held onto her hand after they stopped twice to make use of the restroom, whereas he held firmly onto his gun whereas driving. She was made to remain the backseat.

Neighbors had been capable of ID the automobile and supplied footage to authorities, who had been then capable of observe the automobile down within the Mojave Desert. Police beforehand stated he started firing at them through the pursuit, earlier than the automobile went off the street. Within the lawsuit, the teenager stated, at that time, he informed her to get out of the automobile, earlier than he shot himself.

“The Washington County’s Sheriff’s workplace gave Austin Lee Edwards a gun, a badge and cloaked him with the authority of the legislation,” the teenager’s lawyer informed the Instances in an announcement. “He used this stuff to achieve entry to the Winek dwelling and commit these atrocities. We’ll show that an ample investigation of Edwards’ background would have prevented this tragedy.”

The Washington County Sheriff’s workplace hasn’t commented on the lawsuit.

On the time of the murders, the Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Workplace launched an announcement confirming he was employed by the company on November 16 and had simply begun orientation to be assigned to the patrol division.

“Previous employers and the Virginia State Police had been contacted through the hiring processing; nevertheless, no employers disclosed any troubles, reprimands, or inside investigations pertaining to Edwards,” they stated.

“It’s stunning and unhappy to your complete legislation enforcement group that such an evil and depraved particular person might infiltrate legislation enforcement whereas concealing his true identification as a pc predator and assassin,” stated Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis — who is called within the lawsuit — on the time. “Our ideas and prayers are with the Winek household, their mates, officers, and all of these affected by this heinous crime.”