Posted on 04/25/2006 8:22:25 AM PDT by GMMAC
Girl charged in murders
12 year old accused of killing her family
Sherri Zickefoose
CanWest News Service
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - A 12-year-old girl is accused of murdering her mother, father and younger brother in the family home on a quiet street in Medicine Hat, Alta. A 23-year-old man is also accused in the three deaths. His relationship to the 12-year-old co-accused is unclear. Both accused face three first-degree murder charges after the family was found slain in their home on Sunday afternoon.
The pair were picked up by Leader, Sask., RCMP early yesterday morning on Canada-wide warrants issued hours after neighbours made the gruesome discovery.
The parents and their young son, believed to be around eight years old, were found dead inside their home on Sunday at around 1:30 p.m.
That day, police asked for the public's help in locating a 13-year-old girl who was unaccounted for. Yesterday, police reported the girl, who is actually 12, had been located.
She -- and her family members -- cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Both of the accused are in police custody in Swift Current, Sask., awaiting a bail hearing.
They will be transferred to Medicine Hat, RCMP Sergeant David Townsend said. They were arrested at 8 a.m. without incident, he added. Tips from the public helped lead police to the suspects.
Both the man, who is known to Medicine Hat police, and the Grade 7 girl are facing three counts each of first-degree murder.
Police were combing an area of Medicine Hat and say they are also searching for a missing grey 1987 Dodge Dakota truck believed to be linked to the triple homicide. Its licence number is UCG 406.
RCMP forensic and crime scene investigators combed the tidy grey home and property day and night. The bodies were removed yesterday afternoon.
Autopsies to confirm the cause of death and their identities are scheduled today at the Calgary Medical Examiner's Office.
Police wouldn't say if the home was ransacked or what weapons may have been used, but did say there was evidence of foul play.
The news has sent waves of fear rippling through the streets of Medicine Hat.
"We are as shocked as they are. It's a devastating crime. Unfortunately, it happened within our community.
"And for people to say it doesn't happen here, it does," said Sgt. Townsend.
Residents of the well-manicured neighbourhood are reeling from the shock of the violent crime. Many walked and drove past the yellow crime scene tape, pausing to watch investigators wearing gloves and disposable white jumpsuits.
"You wonder why this family?" said Phyllis Gehring, who lives next door to the family and has watched them barbecue and play in their backyard. "And a child's life taken away from him, for what?"
Crisis counsellors were brought in to local schools to help students, staff and parents try to process the tragedy. The young boy was in Grade 3. Counsellors also attended a school where the 12-year-old girl attends Grade 7.
Jeremy Allan Steinke, 23, of Medicine Hat is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
© National Post 2006
I'm guess ing the murders were in response to the family's vehement objections to his "unclear relationship" with the girl.
Not naming the victims of crime is going too far, especially as it is designed to protect the offender.
Sounds like an episode from CSI.
What would drive someone so young to do something like that?
It is going to be very hard to suppress names in the digital age. Perhaps the Libs did not think about that before they passed the legislation.
I would think that three dead bodies would be considered evidence of foul play.
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