LINCOLN, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
The latest suspects charged in connection with the Gee family murders in Beason have a connection to the man charged with 5 murders. Jason Harris is now charged with obstruction of justice. His brother, Christopher Harris, is charged with the murders of Rick Gee, Ruth Gee and three of their children. Also charged with obstruction of justice is the girlfriend of Jason Harris, Jennifer Earnest and her mother, Sara Duncan."These arrests are based on subsequent investigative interviews that have occurred since the previous press conference," said Steve Nichols, Logan County Sheriff.
The Sheriff would not explain how he believes the suspects obstructed justice but did say more charges could be filed. A task force including members of the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Attorney General continues to investigate.
"I don't know how anyone could do such a thing," said Gerald Miller.
He's the father of Dillen Constant, one of the children murdered in Beason.
He feels helpless now and puts his faith in the Sheriff. Many family members want more answers over why the Gees were murdered and why police arrested the suspects the suspects they have.
For now those questioned remain unanswered and the Sheriff is only giving residents the same advice he gave in the days after the murder.
"Same thing I said from the start continue to lock your doors at night just as you would under any other circumstance no where your kids are and pay attention to what's going around you and take care of your neighbors," said Sheriff Nichols.
Miller could only say that the loss of his son gives him a greater appreciation for the family he has left.
"It's brought our family a lot closer together," he said.
Miller will wait for more answers hoping someday he can understand why this horrible tragedy happened.
Christopher Harris, 30, of McClean County, Illinois was arrested last Thursday. Deputies say Harris was in possession of the unusually outfitted gray pickup truck they had been looking for since the killings happened on September 21. Nichols goes on to say that forensic evidence at the scene ties Harris to the five killings. He would not specify how.
Harris, the sheriff says, did know his victims, but, again, he would not get into details regarding the relationship.
Court records in Logan County indicate Nicole Gee, daughter of one of the victims, was married to Harris, who at the time was a Beason resident. Gee filed divorce papers against Harris and the the marriage was dissolved in 2007. Her grounds for divorce were mental cruelty, and a judge ruled in her favor. The records go on to show a number of hearings regarding child support. The pair was last in court in May of this year.
Neighbors in Beason say the two had reconciled and were living together in a home about two blocks from where the murder happened. They had a baby together earlier this year.
The bodies of Rick Gee, his wife Ruth, and three of their children were all found in their Beason, Illinois home last week. Another daughter, age 3, survived the attack.
Deputies have been extremely tight lipped about details surrounding the killings, only saying the five victims died of "blunt force trauma."
Deputies led a massive manhunt in the case, but, to this point, have revealed no suspects.
