Cops Calling It Homicide

"SUNRIVER, OR - A murder investigation is underway south of Sunriver. It all happened in a quiet three bedroom home on Hermosa Road that has been put up for sale just a few weeks ago. Deschutes County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call at the home around 10:30 Thursday morning. `On their initial arrival they found a white male adult hanging adjacent to the center of the garage area, further investigation, immediate investigation they also located two more victims inside the residence,` said Captain Marc Mills with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

"The case is being called a homicide. The victims are 40 year old Joachim Steffan, his wife, 49 year old Dagmar Steffan and their seven year old son Pascal Steffan. Neighbor Janae Smith's daughter played with Pascal, `they are very good friends, bike riding together, my daughter's played at their house and he's come over and played at our house,` said Smith.

"As detectives process the crime scene, they made clear the public is not in danger. `In a situation like this where it's unknown, you have three deceased victims, you have no living persons to say what happened, no witnesses to say what happened, so we now have a puzzle that we have to put together,` said Captain Mills.

"The family owns La Pine Dry Cleaning Coin and Laundry and Steffan Construction. `I know that they're having hard times economically, all of us are really struggling,` said Smith.

"Sheriff's detectives, Oregon State Police Crime Lab, and the Deschutes County District Attorney's Office will continue it's investigation and look into the family's background."

From KOHD.com...