erin jehl ryann tipton_20111212011322_JPG

The Allen County coroner said Erin Jehl, 19, and Ryann Tipton, 19, were both shot to death. Their bodies were found in a home on Lima Road on Saturday.

Lima Road crime scene_20111210160750_JPG

Police taped off several homes around 3229 Lima Rd. Saturday afternoon.

  • Local News
Family proud to see fallen officer honored
Family proud of fallen officer's honor

It's been nearly 25 years since Master Sergeant Kenneth Hayden …

Graduate defies the odds for her diploma
Graduate defies the odds

One graduate receives her diploma after beating the odds.

Thousands of volunteers clean up Fort Wayne during Great American Cleanup
5,000 volunteers clean up Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne volunteers joined a nationwide effort to give back …

Gun and Knife Show returns to the Coliseum
Coliseum hosts Gun and Knife Show

The annual spring Gun and Knife Show is being held at the …

DNR stocks catfish in pond for free fishing event
DNR hosts free fishing event

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is hosting a free …

Advertisement

Update: Bodies found identified, incident ruled double homicide, suicide

Updated: Monday, 12 Dec 2011, 1:15 AM EST
Published : Saturday, 10 Dec 2011, 4:36 PM EST

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Allen County coroner released the names of two of the three people found Saturday dead inside a Fort Wayne home.

Autopsies were performed Sunday afternoon. The coroner said Erin Jehl, 19, and Ryann Tipton, 19, both of Fort Wayne, died from gunshot wounds. Their deaths were ruled homicides. 

An autopsy was also done on the third person, who is believed to be the shooter. The coroner said positive identification hasn't been made on the man, but said that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death was ruled a suicide.  The coroner's office said investigators are waiting for fingerprint verification and should release the man's name on Monday.

All three people were pronounced dead at 3229 Lima Road at 3:19 p.m. Saturday. Police were called to the home at 3:04 p.m. The house is located just north of where the road splits with Clinton Street.

In a strange twist, it was a Facebook post that prompted a woman in Washington State to call police which led them to the bodies.

"We went to do a well-being check there and we found three deceased adults," said FWPD PIO Spokesperson Scott Tegtmeyer.

Tegtmeyer also said police don't think this was a random act of violence and that they are not looking for any suspects.

Sources led NewsChannel 15 to Bart Heller's Facebook page. On his wall was this post:

"Someone call 911. Three dead bodies at 3229 Lima Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana. I've killed Ryann, Erin, and myself. People were warned not to f***ing play me and ruin me. They didn't listen. Sorry about your luck."

Police wouldn't comment on the Facebook status - or confirm if Heller or the people mentioned in the post are the victims.

"She just called with a concern about that. I know where you're going to go with this. We haven't confirmed that either way yet. We're trying to confirm that right now but as you know we're still getting people on the scene and we haven't been able to confirm that particular post as of yet," said Tegtmeyer.

When officers went up to the front door, they saw through a window a man laying on the ground unresponsive. That's when they forced their way in.

Inside they found three adults with gunshot wounds. Police have a search warrant and are still investigating.

In the meantime, neighbors didn't know the people who lived there but said they're concerned about what happened.

“My first thoughts were what the heck is going on. I mean I saw all of these police cars and that I was notified over the phone that there was an instance that happened behind us,” said Arthur Rufner. Rufner also said he thinks everyone needs to ramp up security.

"Crime doesn't pick and choose where it's going to hit. It can happen in the best of neighborhoods or the worst of neighborhoods. It's something that you really can't be ready for but you can put out precautions,” said Rufner.

One dog was found alive in the home and Animal Care and Control picked it up.
 

Advertisement
Advertisement

Advertisement