Friday, October 2, 2009

Beason, IL: Police make arrest in Downstate Beason murders

Sexual assault, theft motive in Ill. family deaths
(AP) – 1 hour ago
LINCOLN, Ill. — Prosecutors say two brothers killed a family of five after entering their home to rob them and assault a teenage girl.
Indictments released Wednesday also say Christopher and Jason Harris used a tire iron to beat the family to death.
Raymond and Ruth Gee and three of their children were found dead last month in the central Illinois town of Beason.
Christopher Harris had been married to one of Raymond Gee's daughters. The indictments say he and his younger brother planned to sexually assault his ex-wife's younger stepsister.
The indictments include a total of 139 charges against the two brothers, including first-degree murder. They have pleaded not guilty.

October 1, 2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LINCOLN, Ill. — Authorities in Logan County say they've arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the killings of five members of a central Illinois family.

At a news conference Thursday evening, Logan County Sheriff Steven Nichols said Christopher J. Harris of McLean County has been arrested and is being charged with murder.

The bodies of Rick and Ruth Gee, along with three of their children, ages 11, 14 and 16, were found last month in the family's Beason home.

Authorities wouldn't say how Harris knew the family.

But people in the tiny farming community say an older daughter of Rick Gee, Nicole, was once married to a Chris Harris. And records show a Chris Harris sharing the same address as Nicole Gee.

Also, a gray truck matching the description of one authorities were seeking had been sold to Chris Harris. That's according to the vehicle's former owner.

No comments: