Missouri man charged with robbing family's home before killing 4 inside

Ja’Vonne Dupree was accused of robbing a family home before committing a quadruple homicide. (St. Louis County Police Department)

A man was arrested Friday and charged in connection with an August robbery and quadruple homicide in St. Louis County, police said.

The man, Ja’Vonne Dupree, 20, was charged with four counts each of first-degree murder and robbery and nine other counts in the Aug. 24 shooting deaths of Patricia Steward, 56, her two sons, Joseph Corley, 20 and Terrence Dehart, 10, and Corley’s friend Deandre Kelley Jr., 18. All four were shot and killed in a Glasgow Village home.

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St. Louis County police allege that Dupree broke into the residence, taking electronics and clothing before shooting and killing the four occupants. Dupree allegedly fled in Steward’s car with the stolen items.

Police suspect Dupree “picked up multiple shell casings” after shooting the family as a way to cover up his tracks, FOX2 NOW reported. Police found the bodies while conducting a welfare check after Steward did not show up to work.

Dupree was staying at the home when the robbery and shooting occurred, FOX2 NOW reported.

“They knew each other. (Dupree) was very familiar with the family,” St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch said. “They were certainly at one time friends and acquaintances.”

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McCulloch did not elaborate on a motive, but said the slayings were “not a random act.”

Police were able to locate Dupree in Columbus, Missouri, after getting tips from the public, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Dupree was being held in St. Louis County Justice Center, and no bail was set.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.