Update: Sheriff says Ohio man is suspect in 5 slayings, including Kent State student
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The latest on the deaths of five people, including Kent State student Taylor Pifer, in two locations in northeastern Ohio (all times local):
4:10 p.m.
Ohio authorities said a suspect in the slayings of five people in two cities has been charged in two of the killings.
The Stark County sheriff’s office said 45-year-old George Brinkman Jr. was charged Tuesday with two counts of murder.
Investigators said Brinkman worked for a married couple, 71-year-old Rogell Eugene John and 64-year-old Roberta Ray John, in North Canton and was watching their house while they were on vacation. They were found dead Monday.
Brinkman is also a suspect in the North Royalton killings of a mother and her two college-age daughters, who were found dead Sunday. The sheriff said authorities are trying to figure out a connection between Brinkman and the three women, although media outlets reported they were friends on Facebook.
He was taken into custody Tuesday after a standoff in Brunswick.
12:35 p.m.
An Ohio sheriff said the suspect in the deaths of a woman and her college-age daughters is also believed to have killed a married couple in North Canton.
Stark County Sheriff George Maier identified the suspect Tuesday as 45-year-old George Brinkman Jr.
Maier said Brinkman worked for 71-year-old Rogell Eugene John and 64-year-old Roberta Ray John in North Canton and was watching their house while they were on vacation.
The sheriff said the couple was killed after the three women were killed in North Royalton. He said authorities are trying to figure out a connection between Brinkman and the mother and daughters.
Brinkman was taken into custody early Tuesday after a standoff in Brunswick.
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9:50 a.m.
Ohio police said a suspect in the deaths of a mother and her two adult daughters may also have been involved in a separate double homicide nearby.
The 45-year-old man was taken into custody early Tuesday after a standoff in Brunswick, south of Cleveland.
Police said he is suspected in the deaths of the three women found dead Sunday night in a North Royalton home.
A husband and wife were also found dead at a home in nearby North Canton.
Cleveland.com reported that North Royalton Detective Dave Loeding said the suspect possessed evidence linking him to the deaths of the couple.
Police said the suspect had a handgun and was subdued with a stun gun.
No information has been released about a motive.