WEST CHESTER, Ohio (WKRC) - Autopsies performed on four members of one family found bleeding from the head in their apartment revealed they died from gunshot wounds. Also Tuesday, West Chester Police said there is no evidence the murders were a hate crime.
The Butler County coroner identified those killed as Hakiakat Singh Pannag, 59, his wife, Parmjit Kaur, 62, their daughter, Shalinderjit Kaur, 39, and Amarjit Kaur, 58.
Divers with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations’ Forensic Dive Team searched the pond Tuesday directly behind the apartment where the bodies were found. An item was collected by the divers. Resident Rick Kravosky said other neighbors standing near him saw the divers pull a gun from the pond.
“They picked something up and then they took a bunch of measurements,” Kravosky said. “They went down to measure one of the guys before was walking with a metal detector and all of the sudden, he looked up, shouted and everyone rushed toward him.”
Kravosky said one of the neighbors said, 'They got the gun. Did you see it?' Kravosky said he didn’t actually see the weapon.
West Chester Police would not comment on whether a gun was recovered. However, the dive team packed up and left shortly after an item was placed in a white bucket.
The Minister of External Affairs for the Government of India tweeted Tuesday that ambassador for India in the United States has been in touch with West Chester Police. Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj wrote the murders were not a hate crime, which West Chester Police confirmed.
Police said Monday they had not identified a suspect. However, no information was released Tuesday about a possible suspect. The husband of Shalinderjit Kaur, who placed the 911 call Sunday night, was interviewed as a witness and later released. The couple’s children were not at the apartment at the time of the murders.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati released a statement saying members' prayers are with the Sikh community. The organization is facilitating communication between the Indian government and West Chester Police.
Anyone with information about the killings should call West Chester Police at 513-777-2231.
