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'Horrific' Killing Of Family With 5-Year-Old Daughter Likely Not Random, Investigators Say
Outside of the home of the family (Photo courtesy of the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office)
A family of three were found dead in their home near Santa Barbara and sheriff's investigators are now searching for possible suspects and witnesses. Following a "welfare check" on a home in a quiet neighborhood in the Goleta Valley on Wednesday evening, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies found the bodies of a husband and wife and their 5-year-old daughter inside the home, according to local ABC affiliate KEYT. After obtaining a search warrant for the home on the 4600 block of Greenhill Way, deputies found the vicitims who have been identified as Dr. Weidong Henry Han, 57; his wife, Huijie Yu, 29; and their daughter, Emily Han.
Investigators have not yet released information about how the family was killed or any potential motive for the triple homicide, though they don't suspect that it was random.
"Sheriff's detectives are actively investigating this case and are working around the clock to determine who is responsible for this horrific crime," sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Hoover told the L.A. Times. "Detectives are following up on all leads, and while they are not ruling out any possibilities, early indications are that this was not a random attack."
According to the Times, Han owned and ran the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic, where he practiced Chinese herbal medicine.
Sheriff's investigators are now looking for witnesses that could help lead them to the person or persons responsible for the killings.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the sheriff's anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4171.
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