Family of 4 murdered: Boyfriend shoots, kills girlfriend, her two young kids and the girlfriend’s mom

Boyfriend shoots and kills his girlfriend, her two young children and the girlfriend’s mom — Shooter Richard Darren Emery and his girlfriend Kate Kasten, Image credit: Kate Kasten, Facebook

Police still don’t have a motive for the brutal and senseless Friday night murders of a family of four; but after a St. Charles, Missouri, man shot his girlfriend, her two young children and his girlfriend’s mother in the home they all shared, the gunman also shot it out with police officers before making a run for it. Police did wound the shooter in the gunfight though; and the tragically bad boyfriend was arrested several hours later after being discovered in a local convenience store, covered in blood, according to U.S. News.

The murders occurred just before midnight on the evening of December 28. Found dead inside the home from gunshot wounds were Zoe Kasten, 8; her brother, Jonathan Kasten, 10; and their grandmother, Jane Moeckel, 61. Those three were all found in one bedroom. Police found 39-year-old Kate Kasten suffering from gunshot wounds but still alive in the master bedroom.

Kate, mother to Zoe and Jonathan and daughter to Jane, was transported to an area hospital where she died from wounds. It was Kate’s boyfriend, now identified as 46-year-old Richard Darren Emery of St. Charles who pulled the trigger on the family of four. At last count, prosecutors filed 15 charges against Emery, including first-degree murder, assault and attempted robbery. Additional charges are very possible.

When Emery fled the murder scene, he abandoned his own vehicle and tried unsuccessfully to carjack a woman’s car. He attacked that woman and stabbed her several times before ultimately fleeing the scene on foot. Police say her injuries, while serious, are not life-threatening, according to Th e Washington Post.

The two officers involved in the gunfight with Emery were not injured and have been placed on routine administrative leave, according to KCTV5 News.

The initial call came to police came from inside the house, and [St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney] Lohmar said investigators believe Moeckel made it.
“During that phone call, the 911 operator could hear gunshots in the background,” St. Charles Police Lt. Tom Wilkison said. ~ U.S. News

Emery is looking at anywhere from 30 years to life in prison. Under Missouri law, he could also receive the death penalty. As of Saturday night, Emery was still being treated for his wounds at the hospital. Once recovered, he’ll be going directly to jail.