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Man’s meeting with slain young couple on Craigslist

Posted at 7:19 PM, Jul 18, 2014
and last updated 2014-07-21 22:06:36-04

SUSPECT'S NEIGHBOR RECALLS HEARING SCREAMS OVER WEEKEND

WYOMING, Mich., -- During a press conference Friday morning, Wyoming Police Chief James Carmody said, “this is a tragedy of the worst kind” -- three victims, including one unborn child, dead.

Police say it was all at the hands of 31-year-old Brady Oestrike.

One man reached out to FOX 17 after hearing about 18-year-old Brooke Slocum, reported missing Thursday afternoon. He didn’t want to be identified but said he met Slocum and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Charles Oppenneer, on Craigslist.

“My girlfriend met them on the Craiglist , they had an ad on there looking for a place to rent, and they came over to the house and were interested in renting the place,” he said.

That was last November. Things didn’t work out but he says he stayed in touch and heard from Slocum recently.

“Recently they found a guy that let them move in and about three weeks ago she came by and and let me know the guy they were staying with was acting really weird,” he said.

He says Slocum told him she was staying in the area of Burlingame and Burton.

“I feel bad there was a little baby involved now too and now there’s nothing nobody can do.”

Wyoming Police wouldn’t elaborate on how the suspect and victims knew each other, only that they met on Craigslist.

Police say they were led to Oestrike after getting a search warrant for Slocum’s computer and with the help of the ICAC they were able to identify him as a suspect.

Police said they were still looking into what kind of conversation was had.

“We want to tell people to be extremely careful about whom they speak with on these internet sites. Anybody can be anybody behind a computer screen,” said Chief Carmody.

Friday evening Wyoming police released a statement saying they have received numerous questions related to social media posts and random comments on Internet sites but they will not comment on case facts at this time. Police say this is an ongoing investigation and they will release more information when it is appropriate. We are expected to learn more Tuesday.

If you knew the suspect in the case or have any information about his past, we would like to hear from you: