The grisly deaths of a lesbian couple and their two children who were found murdered in upstate New York is eerily similar to another quadruple homicide in 2014 just 10 miles away.
The family – identified as two young siblings, their mother and the woman’s lesbian partner – were found bound and with their throats slashed inside an apartment in Troy on Tuesday.
While police have given limited details on the nature of their murders, the death toll and brutality bears resemblance to the nearby slaying of the Chen family three years ago.
Police still haven’t found the person responsible for murdering the Chinese family.
The family – identified as two young siblings, their mother and the woman’s lesbian partner – were found bound and with their throats slashed inside an apartment in Troy on Tuesday
The recent murders took place 10 miles from where Jin Chen, 39, his wife Hai Yan Li, 38, and their sons, Anthony, 10, and Eddy, 7, (above) were found brutally murdered three years ago
Jin Chen, 39, his wife, Hai Yan Li, 38, and their sons, Anthony, 10, and Eddy, 7, were killed with a knife and hammer inside their Guilderland home in October 2014.
State police investigators have traveled to New York City, Canada and even China in a bid to solve their murders.
Chen was allegedly involved in an illegal money transfer scheme where he would handle large amounts of cash through undocumented Chinese restaurant workers.
It is not clear if the recent murders on Tuesday were linked to any illegal activity but police confirmed the killings were targeted.
It is also not yet known if police are comparing the two murders as part of their investigation.
Troy Police Chief James Tedesco told the Albany Times Union that the recent murders were an act of ‘savagery.’
‘After being in this business for almost 42 years, I can’t describe the savagery of this. I don’t have the word,’ he said.
Troy Police Chief James Tedesco told the paper the murders were an act of ‘savagery’
Tedesco said that officials aren’t currently releasing details on any suspects, the two women, 36 and 22, and two children, an 11-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.
‘There are indications at the crime scene that this was not a random act,’ Tedesco said at a news conference on Wednesday.
‘We are certainly appealing to people in the community that would have any knowledge as to what may have transpired there to contact us as soon as possible.’
He said that additional family members are still being contacted, which is why names haven’t been released.
The family were found dead inside the basement apartment in the Lansingburgh section of Troy at about 12.50pm on Tuesday – but police haven’t given clear details as to how they were killed, or why.
Pastor Jackie Robinson Sr, of Oak Grove Baptist Church, said that an older son related to the two children wasn’t home when the killings occurred. He is thought to be the last surviving member of the family.
Troy Police sources said the family, identified as two young siblings, their mother and the woman’s lesbian partner, appear to have been targeted for an unknown reason
‘Until they catch whoever they did this, there are certainly reasons to be fearful,’ the pastor told the Times Union.
‘We don’t know who did it. Until we find out, it certainly makes sense to be vigilant and keep your doors locked.’
He also said that members of the clergy are speaking to children at the local Boys and Girls Club, describing them as ‘traumatized.’
‘A few had nightmares since this happened. A lot of grown folk are traumatized because this monster is still out there,’ he said.
They had fielded a call after a property manager found the unresponsive people in the building early Tuesday afternoon after being asked to check on the welfare of the residents.
Autopsies completed on Wednesday afternoon are expected to clarify the timeline of attacks and exactly how the victims were killed.
The bodies were discovered by a property manager in a basement apartment on Tuesday after being asked to check on the welfare of the family
Troy police say the deaths are being treated as suspicious and the incident is being investigated as a quadruple homicide
Police have said they still don’t have a suspect for the murders, and don’t want to release a potential motive in the fears of hurting their investigation.
‘The emotions of a police officer is something you repress because there is a job to be done,’ Tedesco said.
‘But no one involved in this case is ever going to forget it. Right now our job is to bring this person to justice.’
Based on evidence uncovered in the course of the investigation, police do not believe there is imminent danger to the community.
So far, no arrests have been made.
Troy Police Captain Daniel DeWolf said earlier that the deaths were ‘certainly suspicious.’
The unit where the bodies were found is one of five in a home located in a residential neighborhood along the Hudson River’s east bank, just north of Albany.
While police have been tight-lipped about the victims, several Facebook users identifying themselves as relatives of the deceased have been posting messages and photos, and sharing links to news articles about the killings in Troy.