sws4420
05-10-2005, 07:16 PM
Three children, three adults killed at DA investigator's ranch
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/US/05/10/bodies.found.ap/story.bodies.found.jpg
Investigators gather at the home where bodies were found Tuesday.
GARNER VALLEY, California (AP) -- Deputies responding to a 911 call Tuesday found the bodies of three adults and three children scattered throughout a sprawling ranch home owned by an investigator for the district attorney's office, authorities said.
Sheriff Bob Doyle said the bodies "had trauma to the head area," but he declined to say exactly how the victims died or if they were related. The children included two girls and a boy, all under 15, Doyle said.
The sheriff said the ranch was owned by David McGowan, an investigator for the Riverside County district attorney's office. He said detectives had not confirmed that the bodies were those of McGowan and his family.
Doyle said no one had been arrested and that "we're not necessarily looking for anybody." He also said there was no indication of a break-in.
The sheriff said the incident was reported at 4:33 a.m., when a 911 dispatcher received a call from inside the home.
"It was pretty much no one on the other end of the phone. There was some noise that was heard by dispatch," he said.
Doyle would not describe the noise, saying he had not heard the tape.
"Whatever the dispatcher heard was significant enough to send a couple of units to the area," he said.
He said there were no calls from any neighbors in the area, with the lone call coming from inside the home.
The house had several cars in the driveway and a dog leashed in front as investigators conducted their investigation Tuesday.
The remote, mountainous area about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles is well-known for its horse ranches, nestled among rolling meadows and tall pines.
Public records show David and Karen McGowan bought the 4.5-acre property and 3,331-square-foot ranch house for $425,000 in 2000.
David McGowan was a detective at the Cathedral City Police Department before joining the district attorney's office, said Pat Whittle, an accounts manager for the Garner Valley Homeowner's Association who has known McGowan for 10 years.
Neighbors said they were shocked by the scene unfolding nearby.
"It's just really quiet here," said David Merriman, whose parents live about a mile from the McGowans. "A lot could happen right next store and you wouldn't even know it."
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/US/05/10/bodies.found.ap/story.bodies.found.jpg
Investigators gather at the home where bodies were found Tuesday.
GARNER VALLEY, California (AP) -- Deputies responding to a 911 call Tuesday found the bodies of three adults and three children scattered throughout a sprawling ranch home owned by an investigator for the district attorney's office, authorities said.
Sheriff Bob Doyle said the bodies "had trauma to the head area," but he declined to say exactly how the victims died or if they were related. The children included two girls and a boy, all under 15, Doyle said.
The sheriff said the ranch was owned by David McGowan, an investigator for the Riverside County district attorney's office. He said detectives had not confirmed that the bodies were those of McGowan and his family.
Doyle said no one had been arrested and that "we're not necessarily looking for anybody." He also said there was no indication of a break-in.
The sheriff said the incident was reported at 4:33 a.m., when a 911 dispatcher received a call from inside the home.
"It was pretty much no one on the other end of the phone. There was some noise that was heard by dispatch," he said.
Doyle would not describe the noise, saying he had not heard the tape.
"Whatever the dispatcher heard was significant enough to send a couple of units to the area," he said.
He said there were no calls from any neighbors in the area, with the lone call coming from inside the home.
The house had several cars in the driveway and a dog leashed in front as investigators conducted their investigation Tuesday.
The remote, mountainous area about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles is well-known for its horse ranches, nestled among rolling meadows and tall pines.
Public records show David and Karen McGowan bought the 4.5-acre property and 3,331-square-foot ranch house for $425,000 in 2000.
David McGowan was a detective at the Cathedral City Police Department before joining the district attorney's office, said Pat Whittle, an accounts manager for the Garner Valley Homeowner's Association who has known McGowan for 10 years.
Neighbors said they were shocked by the scene unfolding nearby.
"It's just really quiet here," said David Merriman, whose parents live about a mile from the McGowans. "A lot could happen right next store and you wouldn't even know it."