Police search for answers after 5 people murdered in St. Louis County apartment
St. Louis County Police Department is investigating a homicide involving five dead adults. According to the police, five people have been found dead at 1900 block of Chambers and authorities are urging the public and anyone who knows about the incident to contact them.
The bodies were discovered by someone who had known the victims. The homicide was reported on July 6 by someone who said he had been with the group the night before. When he returned the next day, he found them all dead. The person was identified as 68-year-old Ronald Brewster Sr who arrived at the residence looking for his son, 40-year-old Ronald Brewster. Brewster Sr identified his son as one of the victims and said that he had been a drug user for 15 years, according to St Louis Dispatch.
At the time, not many details have been revealed about the case, except that it is being considered a murder. He told the publication that he had come back to the apartment to take his son to a family reunion at Tilles Park in Ladue. Brewster Sr said that he had seen a body on the couch as soon as he had opened the door to the premises. He had called the police immediately after shutting it.
St Louis County police spokeswoman Tracy Panus initially said that the victims' identities have not been released and neither have their genders, except that they are all adults. "Any time that we have a scene like this, where there's what appears to be five individuals that are victims of homicide, it rocks a community," Police Chief Jon M. Belmar said in an official Facebook post, "Somebody out there knows what happened. We need help from the community to assist us in solving this crime."
The homicide victims were later identified are Derrick Penny, 54, James Penny, 54, Rodney Holt, 37, Rondall Mullin, 65 and Ronald Brewster Jr., 40. Police have not said how the victims were killed, or released any information about motives or suspects.
Belmar also said that the prosecuting attorney has his eyes on the case and that they will "stay with the case as long as it takes". He also said that it is too early in the case to confirm motive when he was asked by reporters if there were any drugs or weapons found in the premises. He did, however, add that they do have some information coming in on the case. The investigation is ongoing.
People with any information on the homicides are asked to contact St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.