A man from Indiana has been found guilty of murdering five members of his family following a dispute about returning home late.
The horrific incident happened in January 2021 after Raymond Ronald Lee Childs III, aged 21, was involved in an argument over whether he could spend the night at his girlfriend’s house. The argument ended in a fatal shooting that resulted in most of his family being killed.
Raymond Ronald Lee Childs III has been convicted on six counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after he shot dead his father, Raymond Childs Jr, 42; his stepmother, Kezzie Childs, 42; their daughter, Rita Childs, 13; son Elijah Childs, 18; and Elijah’s pregnant girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins, 19.
Prosecutors stated that Childs systematically moved from room to room, shooting each victim. His 15 year old brother also suffered gunshot wounds but managed to escape the house and survived.
He was discovered by authorities on the front porch of the house with multiple injuries. The brother reported to police that he heard his father say “I’m sorry Raymond, I love you” before being shot.
Police located Childs’ car at his girlfriend’s house and arrested him at a relative’s home the day after the shooting. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said: “What occurred inside that home is as unfathomable today as it was in 2021,” adding, “It has been an incredibly difficult journey for the family and friends of the six people that we tragically lost,” reports
Childs’ sentencing is scheduled for January 7. He faces between 40 and 65 years in prison for each murder charge and 20 to 40 years for the attempted murder charge.
