Arrest made in Beason slayings

http://www.pjstar.com/homepage/x593063949/Tips-pouring-into-Beason-murder-investigation


GateHouse News Service
Posted Oct 01, 2009 @ 12:38 PM
Last update Oct 01, 2009 @ 09:03 PM

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LINCOLN — .A 30-year-old man was arrested Thursday afternoon in the murders of five members of a Beason family.

Christopher J. Harris, of McLean County, was arrested in the deaths of five members of the Gee family. Raymond “Rick” Gee, 46, his wife, Ruth Gee, 39, and their children, Justina Constant, 16, Dillen Constant, 14, and Austin Gee, 11, were found dead in their home on Sept. 21.

"Mr. Harris was familiar with the Gee family," Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols said Thursday night at a news conference. Nichols would not comment on a motive and said that Harris' arrest was not necessarily the end of the investigation.

People in the tiny farming community of Beason say an older daughter of Rick Gee, Nicole, was once married to a Chris Harris. And records show a Chris Harris sharing the same address as Nicole Gee.


Authorities also confiscated a 1989 Ford Ranger pickup truck that matched the description of a truck seen in the area after the murders.

Exact charges will be determined by the Logan County State's Attorney, Nichols said.

Beason, a town of about 200 people, is about 10 miles east of Lincoln.

Earlier Thursday, authorities said more than 500 tips have been reported to authorities about the case.

A multi-agency team of law enforcement professionals was assembled to form the Gee Homicide Task Force.

The family members apparently were beaten to death sometime before their bodies were discovered about 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Another child, 3-year-old Tabitha Gee, survived the attack and was hospitalized in Peoria last week in critical but stable condition. An update on her condition has not been released this week.