http://ipraudio.interlochen.org/BenzieArson.mp3
Police still need key pieces of evidence to tell them what happened in an arson and murder two weeks ago in Benzie County. In the meantime, rumors are running rampant about the deaths of Chris Luedtke, his wife and teenage son.
Known for Certain
What officials know for certain is the identity of the victims, that there was no explosion at the home, and that the son, Christopher, was shot four times, twice in the head and twice in the chest, and that he died before the fire started.
Benzie County Sheriff Rory Heckman says Chris and his wife Linda both owned handguns and hunting rifles. But a state crime lab still must determine what kind of bullet killed their son.
Heckman says one of the guns was found next to the wife's body.
Key Details Not Known Yet
Both handguns recovered from the scene have been sent for ballistics tests.
"If the gun belongs to her, gun belongs to the family, it tells you a stranger did not bring that gun into the house with the intention of killing those people," Heckman says. "Plus we have two large dogs that were found that were not shot. They died in the fire."
The sheriff's office also is waiting for lab results that will show the exact cause of the parents' deaths.
And investigators also are searching phone records, e-mails, and financial records.
"We do know that Chris was last seen on the 15th of November by a neighbor, mid-day after he'd been deer hunting in the morning," the Sheriff says. "We're still trying to firm up the last time somebody saw Linda."
Their home north of Frankfort was found fully ablaze on the morning of the 16th.
Rumors
Police also are checking records to find out if the parents frequented a casino near Manistee.
So far there's no video evidence or witnesses to confirm that.
And records of the family's home-based construction business are being investigated to see how much debt it may have had.
There are some pretty grisly rumors circulating that one family member may have been struck in the head with an axe or machete.
Sheriff Heckman says that couldn't be determined just by looking at the badly burned bodies.
And he says he can't control some of the evidence that gets released let alone the rumors.
"I'm afraid that's always the case because we're not releasing a lot of things," Heckman says. "We're comfortable with what we've said. The search warrant that some of the media got, obviously we would rather not have had it out there. But there's nothing I could do to stop that."
Heckman also says he can't rush the forensic evidence.
Bring in Expert
When they have all the results, Sheriff's officers will sit down with a profiler from the State Police or the FBI.
Heckman says a profiler could give them some insight into what may have motivated someone to commit this type of crime.
"These types of things take a twist sometimes. And it's always good to have another set of eyes looking at things, especially with someone that's skilled," the Sheriff says. "Because this is not an everyday type of crime where you kill people and then set a house on fire."
New results from the forensic lab may be available any day.