More charges possible in triple murders

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - Police investigating a triple-slaying in this southern Alberta city say there could yet be more charges in the case, which has already led to the arrest of a 12-year-old girl and her 23-year-old boyfriend.
By CanWest News ServiceApril 27, 2006
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - Police investigating a triple-slaying in this southern Alberta city say there could yet be more charges in the case, which has already led to the arrest of a 12-year-old girl and her 23-year-old boyfriend.

The girl, who cannot be named, and Jeremy Allan Steinke, are each facing three charges of first-degree murder in relation to the deaths of a couple and their eight-year-old son.

But Medicine Hat police Sgt. Dave Townsend told reporters at a press conference Wednesday that police are continuing to follow up on the 100-plus tips they have received so far this week.

"The present team of investigators is dedicated to interviews, forensic-evidence collection, and file co-ordination, which will ensure that a compelling case will brought to trial," Townsend said.

"The investigation is continuing and we will not rule out the possibility of further charges, if evidence comes to light that will support these charges."

Townsend would not speculate as to what the future charges might be.

"Depending on the information that we receive, it could be either other parties or the parties we have in custody."

To that end, he said police were sifting through "numerous rumours, conjecture and innuendo" to discover the truth.

Steinke and his 12-year-old girlfriend, who are being held in custody, are to be back in court next week after making a brief appearance Tuesday.

The charges of first-degree murder indicate premeditation in the deaths of Marc and Debra Richardson and their son Jacob, whose bodies were spotted by a friend of Jacob on Sunday afternoon in their quiet suburban home.

Steinke and the girl, whom friends described as dating, were arrested about 8 a.m. Monday in Leader, Sask. The bodies of the victims were taken to Calgary for autopsy.

Investigators won't release the cause of death until the trial.

Police have finished searching Steinke's residence at a trailer park in the southeast end of the city. Officers continued Wednesday to keep watch over the Richardsons' home.

A forensic-evidence expert with the RCMP has returned to Edmonton, but Medicine Hat's forensic teams continues to gather evidence, Townsend said.

The police service has been working around the clock on the case, which has so far involved four forensic identification officers, 10 criminal investigation section officers, four community resource officers, four canine units and a number of patrol officers.

The city employs 96 police officers in total.

In 2001, the city also had a triple-homicide involving a lengthy standoff with a suspect whose parents and brother were later found dead inside the home.

Still, the Richardson deaths are taking a toll on the community.

"It's going to take months, maybe even years, for the community to heal, especially the children that are involved that might have had some intimate knowledge of the people that are involved in this case," Townsend said.

In Okotoks, Alta., where the Richardsons lived for several years until relocating to Medicine Hat in 2003, questions lingered among both young and old.

Eight-year-old Josh McKinlay, who chummed around with Jacob when the families lived a few houses apart in a condo complex and went to kindergarten together, was trying to comprehend what happened.

The boys were inseparable, said Josh's mother, Lea McKinlay. They attended each other's birthday parties, went swimming in the river together and played at the park. She tried to explain to her son Wednesday what happened to his friend.

"This is way too close to home for me," she said.

Josh has fond memories of Jacob.
"He was fun to be with and my best friend," said the young boy. "We used to run around and play, go to the park and for ice cream. I am sad now."

Meanwhile, the 12-year-old girl accused of killing three members of a Medicine Hat family is facing backlash from the online community she claimed to be a part of.

At least one of the preteen's personal websites on Nexopia is still up and running, and bloggers have been leaving messages of anger.

"If your (sic) the actual girl then I hope you (expletive) rot," read one entry left on the site Wednesday. "You disgust me."

Another blogger posted a picture of his or her pet hamster near a running wheel. A handmade sign with the word "murderer" painted in red hung on the front of the cage.