A Cop Catfished a Teen, Killed Her Family, Then Died in a Police Shootout

Police say one of their own killed the family members of a teenage girl he catfished, abducted her, and lit their house on fire before dying in a shootout with cops. 

Police said that Austin Lee Edwards, a 28-year-old cop from Virginia, killed Mark Winek, 69; his wife, Sharie Winek, 65; and their daughter Brooke Winek, 38, in Riverside, California, on Friday. It’s believed that Edwards had “catfished” the 15-year-old daughter of Brooke Winek before driving over 36 hours from Virginia to California to carry out the crimes. 

The bodies were initially found on Nov. 25, after officers from the Riverside Police Department responded to a call that the 15-year-old was seen in distress while getting into a car with a man. The neighbor who called the police told CBS news that a man had parked his car in their driveway and the teen was crying as he forced her into his car. She also seemed to be mouthing words at the neighbor. 

When police arrived in the area, they found a home on fire, according to a release detailing the killings. Firefighters who entered the home immediately stumbled upon three bodies inside the burning building. The bodies were pulled out and it was determined they were murdered. Police believe the house fire was intentionally ignited. 

While the home burned, the man fled the scene with the teenager. Police then tracked the red Kia Soul he had fled in via aircraft. The man began to shoot at the cops while driving, eventually crashed, and got out of the car while pointing his weapons at officers. He was shot dead on the scene. 

The teenage girl was recovered unharmed. Police believe that Edwards met the young girl he abducted online.

“Detectives determined Edwards had met the female teenager through the common form of online deception known as “catfishing,” reads the release. “It is believed Edwards had developed an online relationship with the teen and obtained her personal information.” 

Edwards was a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, the release said. Before that, he was with the Virginia State Police. In a release, Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis said that Edwards was hired on Nov. 16 and had just started his orientation. 

“It is shocking and sad to the entire law enforcement community that such an evil and wicked person could infiltrate law enforcement while concealing his true identity as a computer predator and murderer,” Andis said in a statement.

Neighbors have told news outlets that the Wineks’ lives revolved around their family. A GoFundMe campaign has raised $46,000 so far and says they leave two teenage daughters behind. 

“Mark Winek was a loving father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and aoach at Arlington High School. Sharie Winek was a sweet and caring mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt who cherished spending time with her family,” it reads. “Brooke Winek was a beloved single mother with the biggest heart and found her most immense joy in following her daughter in the color guard at Arlington High School.”  

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