Granddaughter, Boyfriend Charged In Lawrenceville Couple's Murder

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A 17 year old and her teen boyfriend have been charged with murder in the brutal slaying of her 63-year-old grandparents.

Johnny Rider, 19, and Cassandra Bjorge have been charged with murder and aggravated assault in the deaths of Wendy and Randall Bjorge, Gwinnett County Police announced Thursday.

Police said the couple died in their Lawrenceville home after having their throats slashed. Both also appeared to have been beaten, suffering blunt force trauma and sharp force injuries, police said.

"This is a very unique and disturbing case on so many levels and detectives are still exploring motive," said police spokesman Cpl. Deon Washington. "We may never find a scenario that makes sense to a reasonable person."

Police said Thursday they believe the couple was killed about a week prior to being discovered on Saturday.

Officers had responded to the address, on Furlong Run in Lawrenceville, several times beginning last Thursday, when family members expressed concern, but were unable to make contact with the couple.

There was no obvious cause to enter the home by force during those earlier visits, police said.

Then, on April 9, Rider was accused of beating two family members at another Lawrenceville address. Cassandra Bjorge was with him and police discovered a vehicle belonging to the elder Bjorges at the scene.

Police then used force to enter their home and found their bodies.

Rider and Cassandra Bjorge were taken into custody Sunday, after they slashed their own wrists in an apparent suicide attempt. The pair had been holed up in a Suwanee apartment, spurring a SWAT standoff.

On Thursday, Gwinnett Police painted a picture of a troubled home at the Bjorges, where Cassandra is believed to have lived.

Between October 2015 and March 2017, police responded to the Furlong Run address 31 times.

Of that number, 18 were runaway calls and at least eight were calls of concern by neighbors. There were several other calls for domestic disputes and illegal drug suspicion, police said.

In another wrinkle to the case, police also announced Thursday they believe teens may have been inside the Bjorges' home after their slaying.

These juveniles are not believed to have been involved in the killings, police said, but may have information that proves to be critical to the homicide investigation.

Parents in the area are asked to talk to their teens to see if they were at the home or had contact with the suspects between April 1 and April 8.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwinnett County Police.

Photos courtesy Gwinnett County Police