Story Published:
Jun 10, 2009 at 6:39 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jun 11, 2009 at 10:36 AM CDT
COLE CAMP, Mo. -- Detectives continued to look for clues on Wednesday in a triple homicide in this small town in northern Benton County. Police said little about their investigation but others did talk about the victims: Donnie Luetjen, 64; his wife, Sharon, 61; and their 15-year-old granddaughter, Taron Luetjen.
People here in the community say the Luetjens were wonderful people, and they can’t be more shocked by the tragedy. Making it even harder is not knowing who did this and why.
Folks say the Luetjens lived on South Elm street for years and years. They attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, just across the street, and both Donnie and Sharon Luetjen were natives of the area.
"He did work for me in his body shop. I’ve known him since he was just a young kid, and her too," said former mayor Raymond .Schlesselman.
Taron lived with the Luetjens for the past several years. It was her drivers education teacher who suspected something was wrong.
"They were great individuals; they always made sure she was where she needed to be and on time, and that’s what alerted us yesterday, because she hadn’t shown up for Drivers Ed," said high school principal Perry Gorrell.
Taron, who would have been a high school junior, will be missed in the halls of Cole Camp High School.
"She was a very bubbly person, with a great personality, very fun to be around. She was a model student, did very well academically, and loved to sing and perform," said her teacher.
Also grieving for Taron, is her mother, Debra Kost, who hadn’t been allowed to spend time with Taron since a custody battle several years ago after a wreck that killed Taron’s father.
"I’d cut clippings out of papers, like if she’d be in there for the basketball team or something," said Kost.
She hoped someday she’d get to know Taron better, and introduce her to her younger siblings.
"I always thought, 'She’ll be 18, and she can talk to me, and they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it,' so now I don’t have that," said Kost.
The Rural Missouri Major Case Squad has been activated to investigate this triple homicide. So far, law enforcement haven’t announced any persons of interest or released the causes of death or when the murders happened. Taron had missed Drivers Ed both Monday and Tuesday.
Police plan to hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Thursday to release more information.
