WYOMING, Mich. -- Brady Oestrike strangled eight months pregnant Brooke Slocum after he had held her captive for a period, Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody said Monday at a morning news conference.
Chief Carmody started with a warning that the details of the case were "disturbing." He then said that the events that led to the murders of Slocum, Charles Oppenneer, their unborn child and the suicide of Oestrike began with an arrangement made on Craigslist to meet for sex between Oestrike and Slocum with Oppenneer present.
He then described how, after Oppenneer's body was found, the head was missing, and it remains unfound despite assistance in the search from an Michigan State Police helicopter and trained dogs.
Slocum's time of death was determined to have been the same day her body was found in the trunk of Oestrike's car.
After these grisley discoveries, Chief Carmody described the conditions of investigating Oestrike's residence as "hellish." More than 400 different items were identified as evidence in the residence, including restraints, dozens of firearms, knives, and a collection of electronics that included computers, cameras, and monitoring devices.
Capt. Kim Koster said a motive has not been determined in the murders and may never be known.
The investigation into the deaths revealed a previous relationship that involved Oestrike where the woman, who lived with him a short time and left, first indicated there was domestic violence but then declined to press charges. She was described by Chief Carmody as alive and well.
The family of Charles Oppenneer asked police to issue a short public statement: "We are thankful for the thoughts and prayers that we have received, and in turn have the deepest sympathy and sorrow for Brooke's family."
