PICTURED: Father and two sons murdered alongside their mother by a 16-year-old boy in their West Virginia family home
The father and two young boys who were tragically murdered alongside their mother by a 16-year-old in their West Virginia family home have been identified and pictured.
On Sunday Daniel Dale Long, 37, his wife Risa Mae Saunders, 39, and their sons Gage Ripley, 12, and Jameson Long, three, were found dead in their Elkview home.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department said a 16-year-old boy who was part of the family was not in the home when the bodies were found and he was located later in the day.
By Sunday evening police said a juvenile male was charged with four counts of murder and on Monday they confirmed the suspect was 16.
On Sunday Daniel Dale Long, 37, (above) his wife Risa Mae Saunders, 39, and their sons Gage Ripley, 12, and Jameson Long, three, were found dead in their Elkview home. A 16-year-old has been charged with their murders
Gage Ripley, 12, (left) and Jameson Long, three, (right) were tragically found dead along with their parents Sunday morning
The family was found on Sunday morning around 10.40am by a relative who didn’t hear from them on Saturday and visited the Cemetery Hill Drive home in Elkview to check in
The family was found on Sunday morning around 10.40am by a relative who didn’t hear from them on Saturday and visited the Cemetery Hill Drive home to check in.
They found the front door unlocked and the dead bodies inside and called police.
Investigators say each victim appeared to have been shot with a firearm.
Autopsies were conducted Monday and will determine the cause and time of death.
On Monday the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office said autopsies have been conducted at the juvenile charged with four counts of murders was a 16-year-old male
Four members of the family of five were found dead in the home early Sunday. Cops are awaiting autopsy results for the exact cause and time of death. Daniel Long pictured holding his youngest child
Deputies said Sunday they were unsure of exactly when the shooting unfolded.
A GoFundMe for the funeral costs of the family has raised more than $4,000 of its $30,000 goal.
The page was set up by a cousin of Risa who wrote: 'We are raising money for burial costs for our family. My cousin, her husband and 2 children were found murdered in Elkview, WV today on 12/13/2020! Risa (the mom) was almost 40, Dan (the dad) was also almost 40, Gage was a 12 year old boy and Jameson was 3 years old!'
'We determined immediately on the deputies’ arrival they were all deceased,' Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford said Sunday
Investigators pictured at the scene on Sunday afternoon. The four victims apparently died from gunshot wounds but the official cause of death is pending
'None had insurance and we are honestly not sure what to do! Please share if you can’t donate! Please pray for us as a family!' she added.
A man named Jon Truman shared a touching tribute to the Long family on Facebook on Monday writing: 'I will miss you guys so so much I will cherish the memories we had together.'
'When u left this world u took a piece of my heart. I love you guys wait for me in heaven as for I'll miss you guys like crazy and I'll sure as heck miss those boys,' he added.
