North Royalton Murders: Suspect Denies Role In Killings

NORTH ROYALTON, OH — George Brinkman, 45, has been formally charged with the shooting death of an elderly Lake Township couple, Fox 8 reports. While he is also under investigation for the triple homicide of a mother and her two daughters in North Royalton, police have yet to formally charge for those crimes. He also has reportedly denied his role in the killings.

Rogell John, 71, and Roberta John, 64, of Lake Township were found shot to death inside their home on Monday, Fox 8 reports. The Lake Township couple were discovered by their son.

The North Royalton Police Department currently has custody of Brinkman. He is being investigated for his role in the deaths of Suzanne Taylor, 45, and her two daughters, Taylor Pifer, 21, and Kylie Pifer, 18. The women were found dead inside their North Royalton home, Channel 19 says.

It recently came to light that Brinkman contacted a reporter from Channel 19 prior to his arrest. He exchanged messages with during his nine-hour standoff in Brunswick with the reporter and denied being involved in the North Royalton murders. He said he had a broken hand and would have been unable to control three adults in his condition.

The father of the slain girls, Brian Pifer, issued a statement on Tuesday night.

"We have all suffered a great loss. Taylor and Kylie were deeply loved - not only by me, but by our families and so many friends," Pifer said, according to cleveland.com. "We are absolutely devastated. Taylor and Kylie were beautiful, strong, intelligent young women."

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