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Virginia Man Charged With 'Senseless' Killing Of Four, Including Newlyweds And Their Teenage Daughter
David Maine is charged with murdering four housemates in Virginia including a newly married couple and their 19-year-old daughter.
A 24-year-old Virginia man is facing multiple murder and weapons charges in the deaths of his four housemates, including a newlywed couple and their teenage daughter.
Police said in a statement that they went to the home in Woodbridge after a call that someone had been shot inside the residence and discovered four victims – two men and two women – dead in different parts of the home.
On Tuesday, police identified the victims as Miguel Flores, 44, his wife Kelly Sotelo, 42, and their 19-year-old daughter Karrie Sotelo. Another victim, Richard Corrales, 36, was renting a room in the home.
Police said that three of the victims were shot, but the cause of death of the fourth victim is still undetermined.
“This is horrific. Every adjective you can use to describe what happened here last night,” Prince William County Chief of Police Peter Newsham said Tuesday during a press briefing, according to WJLA-TV.
Police said that David Maine was initially taken into custody as a person of interest. After questioning he was arrested and charged with four counts of second-degree murder. Other charges are pending.
Police said Maine is an acquaintance of another family member who was not at home when the shooting took place. The shooting allegedly followed some kind of altercation at the home. Police said Maine left the home after the shooting and called 911 to report it. He was later found nearby and detained by police.
Authorities said that Flores and Kelly Sotelo were recently married, and their daughter was probably shot first. Police are still trying to determine if someone else was inside the home and may have fled, according to WJLA.
“We’re still trying to nail down the motive in the case but the only word I can use to describe this is senseless. Absolutely senseless that anyone would take four lives the way they did,” Newsham said, according to WJLA. “Anybody who was out here last night knows that there was a huge group of friends and family members that were gathered, and they were completely distraught over the loss of these lives.”
Maine is being held without bond at the Prince William-Manassas regional jail.
“This guy has been charged, my hope is that he never sees the light of day again,” Newsham said.
Oxygen.com was unable to determine if Maine had an attorney. The shooting remains under investigation.
Kelly Sotelo was employed at Enterprise Elementary School as a food and nutrition services worker. The school is offering counseling services to students and staff members.
“Resources will be available for both staff members and students who need support in coping with their sadness,” Principal Kelly Nickerson wrote in a letter to families. “Please pay attention to your student’s emotional needs during the next few weeks, especially if he/she knew Ms. Sotelo.”
