Slain mother, daughters were found "face down in bed"; suspect charged

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio -- Ohio authorities say a suspect in the slayings of five people in two incidents this week has now been charged in all five deaths.

Police in the Cleveland suburb of North Royalton say 45-year-old George Brinkman Jr. was charged Wednesday with aggravated murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence in the deaths of a mother and her two college-age daughters. 

The bodies of 45-year-old Suzanne Taylor, 21-year-old Taylor Pifer and 18-year-old Kylie Pifer were found Sunday in their home by Taylor Pifer's boyfriend, reports CBS affiliate WOIO.

A responding police officer said the three slain women were cold to the touch, "face down in bed all lying right next to one another," according to a police report obtained by the station.

Cleveland.com reports North Royalton Detective Dave Loeding says the mother was stabbed at least once, but investigators haven't recovered a knife. The causes of death weren't immediately clear. Police believe the women may have been killed the day before their bodies were found.

Monday night, police responded to a home in Brunswick in search of Brinkman to question him about the triple slaying, reports CBS affiliate WOIO. He was taken into custody after a nine-hour standoff and tense negotiations through a window.

Brinkman was later also linked to the murder of a North Canton couple whose bodies were found in their home several hours before the standoff began. Brinkman was charged Tuesday with the murders of 71-year-old Rogell Eugene John and 64-year-old Roberta Ray John.

Authorities say they apparently were shot during a robbery. Brinkman had evidence that linked him to the North Canton couple's slaying when he was taken into custody, Loeding told Cleveland.com.

Stark County Sheriff George Maier said Brinkman worked for the couple. Brinkman had been watching their home while they were away on vacation, the sheriff said. Brinkman previously dated the couple's daughter, reported Cleveland.com.

Police in North Royalton wouldn't say what kind of relationship, if any, the suspect had with the slain mother and daughters. WOIO reports the suspect frequently commented on Suzanne Taylor's Facebook page.

Sonya Pifer, who told WOIO she is the stepmother of the two younger victims, said they were college students and had been estranged from their father since they became adults. Taylor Pifer was a fashion design student at Kent State, and Kylie was a biology student at Bowling Green State.

Court records don't list an attorney for Brinkman.