Fire Fails To Hide Evidence Of Massacre

The investigation continues into the slaying of a family of five in the Hudson Valley, where investigators are trying to find out more about the victims.

Sgt. Robert Hogan at the state police Troop K headquarters in Dutchess County says investigators are talking to a number of people in an effort to obtain information on the Morey family.

Manuel and Tina Morey and their three sons — ages 6, 10 and 13 — were found slain inside their burning home in the town of Fishkill early last Friday morning.

Autopsies revealed that the parents had been shot and that the two older boys had been stabbed. Authorities say the youngest boy had been killed by a blow to the head.

As reported in the Poughkeepsie Journal, Hogan refuted TV reports suggesting that organized crime had links to the murders, or that the victims were tortured prior to their deaths. He said police were still searching for more leads.

Their bodies were found in a home off of Route 82 in the Dutchess County town of Fishkill, 60 miles north of New York City. The family had moved into their rented two-story house a year ago next month.

Hogan says investigators are checking with hospitals in the region for anyone who might have suffered burns or cuts to their hands around the time the family was killed.

Dr. Kari Reiber, the chief medical examiner in Dutchess County, said the adult male died from a single gunshot wound to the neck. The adult female died of gunshot wounds to the chest and head. The 13-year-old died of multiple stab wounds.

Autopsies performed yesterday revealed that the youngest child died of blunt force trauma to the head. The third boy also died of multiple stab wounds.

Reiber says all five victims were dead prior to the fire, and the medical examiner's office is ruling the deaths homicides.

Troopers say a burned-out car found a short distance from the two-and-a-half-story home when firefighters arrived around 3 a.m. belonged to Mr. Morey.

Police say the car played a role in the homicides but they aren't saying how.