West Chester quadruple homicide: Divers searching pond at apartment complex

A regional law enforcement dive team is searching a pond at the West Chester Twp. apartment complex where four people were found dead on Sunday night.

Barb Wilson, the West Chester Twp. spokesperson, said police have been out canvassing the area, which would include the pond.

“They are looking for any evidence they might find,” Wilson said of the search.

Three females and one male who lived in the apartment were found dead after a man called 911 when he discovered them in the apartment. Crews responded at about 10 p.m. on Sunday night.

Police believe that a shooter who killed four members of a family in a West Chester Twp. apartment is not among the dead, West Chester Twp. police Chief Joel Herzog said during a news conference Monday.

West Chester Quadruple Homicide | Full Press Conference ???Police believe that a shooter who killed four members of a family in a West Chester Twp. apartment is not among the dead, West Chester Twp. police Chief Joel Herzog said during a news conference today.

The victims were all adults who lived there, Herzog said.

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There were reports of a fire inside the apartment, and that came from unattended food that was being prepared at the time of the incident, he said.

Multiple agencies are actively working on the case, he said.

“The safety of the community is paramount for us,” Herzog said.

Children also lived at the apartment, but they were not at the residence at the time, and they’re with other family members now, Herzog said.

“We don’t have a suspect at this time,” he said. There are multiple people police want to “follow up with,” he said.

West Chester Quadruple Homicide | Police give update Police believe that a shooter who killed four members of a family in a West Chester Twp. apartment is not among the dead, West Chester Twp. police Chief Joel Herzog said during a news conference today.

A man called 911 and said his wife and three other family members were on the ground and bleeding, according to the call obtained by this news outlet. Dispatchers asked the caller if it looked like the victims were stabbed or shot, but the caller said he couldn’t tell.

In a separate 911 call, a neighbor called stating a man was running around the apartment complex asking for people to call for help.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots but police would not say if any of the victims suffered gunshot wounds.

Herzog added there was no immediate threat to the community, but police said they do not have a person of interest or suspect in the incident yet.

Dr. Lisa Mannix, Butler County Coroner and investigators arrived at the scene around 8:30 a.m., Martin Schneider, administrator for the coroner’s office said in a statement.

Schneider did not know when autopsies would be performed on the four deceased, noting performing three autopsies in one day is a busy day for the office.