UPDATE: Logan County sheriff’s officials announced Thursday October 1, 2009 that murder charges against Chris Harris, 30, (ex-husband of Nicole Gee, eldest daughter of the Gee family) had been filed for the deaths of Raymond “Rick” Gee, 46, and Ruth Gee, 39, and children Justina Constant, 16, Dillen Constant, 14, and Austin Gee, 11.
The couple and three children were found murdered late Monday afternoon (September 21, 2009) in their home in Beason, Illinois, a rural town in between Bloomington, Peoria and Springfield — and about 140 miles southwest of Chicago. The victims are Raymond “Rick” Gee,46; Ruth Gee, 39; Justina Constant, 16, Dillen Constant, 14; and Austin Gee, 11. The victims, according to police, died of blunt force trauma.
A 3-year-old girl, Tabitha Gee, survived the attack and was taken to a hospital in Peoria.
A 9-1-1 call reported possible shots fired at the ranch-style home on Broadway Street on the south edge of Beason, Illinois Monday afternoon.
No suspect information released, but residents have been warned to lock their doors and consider the unidentified suspect armed and dangerous.
Law enforcement investigators are interested in information about a small-bodied pick-up truck — a Chevy S-10 or Ford Ranger — with gray primer paint on the body of the truck. Chrome exhaust pipes were also reported coming out near the bed of the truck, which was reported in the area near the time of the killings. The truck was seen in Beason, Illinois before midnight Sunday, or at least 16 hours before the bodies were discovered
Law enforcement in the area is under the jurisdiction of Logan County, Illinois. Information about the Monday afternoon killings were released Tuesday morning at a press conference by Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols.
The murder scene shows that the victims put up a violent struggle. Police suspect there may have been more than one offender and the offender or offenders may be injured. Police are also asking for help from the public to be on the lookout for anyone who shows signs of unexplained trauma, such as bruises, scratches and even loss of large clumps of hair. Police have given instructions to the public to look for recent injuries, especially to the arms, heads and the upper body.
The Logan County police have formed a task force consisting of the Illinois State Police, Lincoln County police, the FBI, and the Logan County State Attorney’s office.
A tip line has been established that will be monitored around the clock. The telephone number is 732-3000. Callers are asked to try again if the phone line is busy.
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