Four people found dead in home - WLFI.com

WAYNESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - The Bartholomew County Coroner says the autopsies of the four victims of Saturday's Waynesville shooting will be completed Monday evening. However, the report likely won't be ready until Tuesday morning.

Four people were found dead inside a home in Waynesville according to the Bartholomew County Sheriff?s Department. Sheriff Mark Gorbett said the victims were shot to death. No suspects have been taken into custody and police are not considered to be involved in a manhunt.

"We still have crime scene techs and criminal investigators at the scene and anticipate them being there for quite a length of time," Gorbett said. "We are following up on all leads at this point and we have no one in custody at this time."

The person who called 911 after discovering the bodies is a son who lived with his mother and stepfather in the home, Gorbett said. That person told police he found the victims when he returned home from work.

Three male victims were found in the living room, and a woman was found in a bedroom.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff said the dead include homeowner Katheryn Burton of Waynesville. She was 53 years old.

The three men found dead in her home were Aaron Cross, 41, Thomas Smith, 39, and Shawn L. Burton, 41.

Dispatchers were alerted to the scene, which is about seven miles south of Columbus at 10:39 p.m. Saturday.

A WISH-TV source was on the scene shortly after police arrived and provided photos anonymously. The source told 24-Hour News 8 that "police were everywhere."

Indiana State Police and Columbus Police joined the Sheriff?s Department in setting up a staging area at a church off State Road 11 which is near the crime scene.

In a press conference Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Mark Gorbett addressed the investigation.

"We have investigators from several agencies following up all leads at this time. We?ve been working around the clock and will continue to do so, until we can bring those responsible to justice," Gorbett said.

Friends and family react to homicides

Family and friends say all four of these victims leave behind children.

Rennie Haeseley says her nephew Thomas Smith was a Marine, and had dated victim Katheryn Burton for nine years. Haeseley says she had to call her sister to tell her about her son?s death.

?Unbelievable. Unreal. I?ve never had to call a mom, especially my sister, to say that, 'Your son was just murdered.' That was the hardest thing I?ve ever had to do,? she said.

Haeseley says Smith?s parents and sisters live in North Carolina, and are coming to Indiana.

On Monday, Smith's sisters spoke to 24-Hour News 8 about their brother.

"Tommy is right there with us and he will always be with us. We have a lot of good memories to look back on, a lot of good memories. That will keep us strong. It will," said sister Cindy Rickman.

"I can swallow the hurt down a little bit and when the funeral comes that is when we will all lose it. And that's when we will lean on the rest of the family," said sister Tracy Smith.

Stevie Furkin lives next door to the couple, and says his brother is victim Shawn Burton. Family says Burton has three children.

?He had good intentions,? said Furkin. ?He would also pull the shirt off his back and give it to you anytime.?

?I?m just in shock. They have to have an idea who did this. They have to have an idea who did this. I do hope they find out who it is,? said Haeseley.

Relatives and neighbors say they believe there may have been potential illegal activity going on at the house.? Smith's sisters did not want to comment on the allegations.

Throughout the day on Monday, family and friends of the four victims visited the scene. Flowers were left next to a telephone pole wrapped with crime scene tape. Friends are hoping for a quick arrest.

"I don't know what to think about it at all. I just would love to know the insight onto who done this to my friends and my family. They were like family to me," said Brian Titara, who was a friend of the four victims.

Although 24-Hour News 8 initially reported none of the victims had a criminal history, further research indicated Burton pleaded guilty for possessing and transporting? anhydrous, which stemmed from 2006 charges.

Source: http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/video/four-people-found-dead-in-home1368538739646

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