THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 20, 1995 TAG: 9502200080
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The charred remains of three children were found in a burned van early Sunday near the Wright Brothers Memorial. Several hours later, the body of a 36-year-old man was discovered in the woods nearby.
``We're looking at it as a triple homicide and a suicide,'' said Kill Devil Hills' police chief, James H. Gradeless, late Sunday. ``I just can't tell you much more than that tonight.''
There were unofficial reports that the man was in the woods when the van burned, and did not kill himself until he was spotted by officers about noon Sunday.
The relationship between the children and the man was being investigated. Authorities believe the vehicle was registered out-of-state. They could not identify the children, and withheld identification of the man until they could investigate further.
The three children were under age 13, said Dare County spokesman Charlie Hartig. Officials would not discuss whether the children were dead when the fire started.
The deaths marked the first time since 1978 that a homicide occurred in this Outer Banks community, which is best known for its beaches and the first powered flight by the Wright brothers in 1903.
``In almost 18 years here, I've never seen a case like this. And God forbid, I hope I never do again,'' said Gradeless, a Vietnam veteran. ``I've never had a case involving a child, not since Vietnam.''
At 1:27 a.m. Sunday, the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department received a report that a vehicle was on fire in the parking lot of the Wright Brothers Monument Airport, Gradeless said. A passerby living in a nearby subdivision had noticed the fire, Hartig said.
The late-model Ford Aerostar was aflame when firefighters arrived.
After the fire was extinguished, authorities found that at least one burned body was in the van. Later in the day, investigators found that two more children were found dead in the vehicle.
About noon, authorities said, the body of the man was found. Gradeless would not disclose how the man died or any other details leading up to his death.
Gradeless said he could not discuss reports that the man shot himself after encountering officers. The chief did say, however, that there was no truth to reports that the man and officers had been in a gunbattle.
Officials investigating were reluctant to discuss the case in detail.
``We'd like to withhold any identification until we can notify the families,'' Gradeless said. ``He had some identification on him, but we want to be absolutely sure.''
The bodies of the children and the suicide victim were taken to Greenville for autopsy by state medical examiners, in an effort to determine their identity and ages, Gradeless said.
Gradeless said forensic examinations could take several days.
Officials from Kill Devil Hills, the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Park Service and the FBI are continuing their investigation. The FBI and the Park Service are involved because the Wright memorial airport is federal property, Gradeless said. MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: Color map
KEYWORDS: MURDER SUICIDE by CNB