Va. Woman, 2 Children Killed In Dispute

TRIANGLE, Va. - The Dean family was the Ward and June Cleaver of the neighborhood. They baked cookies for everyone, played with their kids outside, religiously attended church and opened their door to anyone.

Neighbors never saw any sign of trouble until late Thursday night when they heard police sirens screaming into the quiet cul-de-sac on Cedar Road. Police say 44-year old Carrillo Dean shot and killed his wife and two stepchildren with a handgun. Around 10:45 pm he called police.

When officers arrived they found Dean waiting outside. Elizabeth Dean and her 13-year old son Connor Kirk were dead. Her 14-year old daughter Brittany Kirk died a few hours later at the hospital.

"I can't even think about it. He's the most gentle, kind, fun-loving man. He's just, I can't imagine that he would do that," said Erin Peterson.

She and her husband were good friends with the Dean family. The daughter, Brittany, did baby-sitting for Peterson's 4 and 6-year-old children. She says they often exchanged cookies with each other, making sure to bake some gluten-free because Elizabeth Dean suffered from celiac disease.

Police say they've never had any previous calls to the home for violence.

"We cannot release a motive. That's still under investigation, what led to this horrible tragedy," said Erika Hernandez, a spokesperson for Prince William County Police.

Investigators worked through the night collecting evidence. A patrol car was staked outside the home most of the morning. Police removed the crime scene tape just before 11:00 a.m. and officers left.

Brittany Kirk was a freshman at Forest Park High School. Friends say she was calm, friendly and always seemed happy. If there were family problems she never spoke of them.

Emma Parker rode the school bus with Brittany everyday. She saw the murder on the news this morning.

"I just thought I would go to school and Brittany would be there. She would be on the bus when we came home. We'd be laughing, like always. I don't know what happened," Parker said as tears streamed down her face.

Kirk's younger brother, Connor, was an eighth grader at Graham Park Middle School. Both schools provided crisis counselors for students and said a note went home with kids informing parents of the two students' deaths.

To neighbors, the Deans were as close as you get to the perfect family. Dean worked as a Prince William County Park Ranger for 23 years. He was a decorated ranger who once served as the department's chief. Police say he did not carry a service weapon, but neighbors say they often saw a gun around his waist and assumed it was part of the job.

One neighbor says Dean often brought the kids to his house to see his collectibles and sculptures.

"It's very, very surprising. Hard to believe," said Jacob Charon.

That shock and disbelief resonated with neighbor after neighbor who knew the family.

"It's not even fathomable. I can't even imagine it. Our kids go over freely knock on their door on a daily basis. Nothing would ever lead you to believe something like this could happen," Sean Peterson said.

Neighbors say the Deans went to church twice a week. Dean's 77-year-old mother also lived in the home but was unharmed.

"They were always doing things as a family together. They were very involved in their church community," Erin Peterson said.

She remembers one time a few years ago when Dean temporarily took in a family from his church. Neighbors say Elizabeth Dean,walked gingerly because of a disability from going years with celiac disease undiagnosed but her husband took care of her.

Police arrested Dean and charged him with murder. No one it seems saw this coming. Brittany's friends say Dean was funny and always cracking jokes. They never saw him get mad or yell.

Cheyenne Dinger who went to high school with 14-year old Brittany said "It's just sad that were never going to see her again."
 

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