Sheriff’s deputies discovered a scene of unimaginable horror yesterday, when they found the bodies of six people – including three children – who were apparently slain in a domestic dispute at a California ranch owned by a district attorney’s investigator.
The victims all suffered head wounds and were strewn about a sprawling home on the Garner Valley, Calif., ranch owned by David McGowan, a law enforcement officer for the Riverside County, Calif., district attorney’s office.
KNBC in Los Angeles reported that the bodies were that of McGowan, his wife, his mother and three children – but police would not confirm the report.
The suspect in the killing is believed to be related to the family, authorities said. The television report said law enforcement sources believe the suspect is the brother of one of the victims.
Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle said the deputies rushed to the well-to-do neighborhood after they got a suspicious 911 call from the house at about 4:30 a.m. yesterday.
“It was pretty much no one on the other end of the phone,” Doyle said. “There was some noise that was heard by dispatch.”
Doyle said the noise prompted the investigation of the house.
“Whatever the dispatcher heard was significant enough to send a couple of units to the area,” he said.
He said that each victim had “trauma to the head area,” but would not say if they were shot. The dead include two girls and a boy, all under age 15.
Doyle said there was no indication of a break-in – and he would not talk about who the suspect is, or confirm the report of a domestic dispute.
“We’re not necessarily looking for anybody,” he said.
The remote, mountainous area lies among rolling meadows and tall pines about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles. It is known for posh homes and horse ranches.
David and Karen McGowan bought the 41/2-acre property and ranch house, which is 3,331 square feet, for $425,000 in 2000.
Yesterday, there were several cars in the driveway and a dog leashed in the front yard as investigators combed through the home.
With Post Wire Services