Police: Granddaughter, boyfriend suspects in Gwinnett couple slaying
The granddaughter of a Lawrenceville couple found slain in their home Sunday morning is in custody along with her boyfriend on suspicion of murder, police said.
Cassandra Bjorge, 17, and Johnny Ryder, 19, were hospitalized after allegedly stabbing themselves during a police standoff Sunday afternoon in Suwannee.
No motive for the killing has been established, and no other suspects were under investigation, Gwinnett County police spokesman Detective David Smith said.
The bodies of the victims, Wendy and Randall Bjorge, both 63, were found shortly after midnight by police who had unsuccessfully attempted to perform welfare checks on the couple throughout the week. Concerned relatives out of state contacted authorities when they stopped hearing from the Bjorges, Smith said.
Then, on Saturday night, Gwinnett police responded to an assault off of Rambling Woods Drive in Lawrenceville. The two victims said they had been beaten by their family member, Ryder, who was reportedly in the company of his 17-year-old girlfriend, Cassandra Bjorge. The young Bjorge was known to police as a frequent runaway, Smith said.
Ryder and Cassandra Bjorge were not at the scene, but police said they did locate a vehicle belonging to Wendy and Randall Bjorge.
Having found their vehicle but unable to make contact with Wendy and Randall Bjorge, police forced entry to their home, where they made the gruesome discovery, Smith said.
The investigation led authorities to the location of Cassandra Bjorge and Johnny Ryder at a friend’s house on McGinnis Ferry Road in Suwanee.
Following a standoff with the department’s SWAT team, officers entered the home and found the suspects suffering from apparent self-inflicted wounds, Smith said.
The suspects were taken to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on this crime to contact the Homicide Unit at 770 513-5300, or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 404 577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.
Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Case Number(s): 17-031941
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Meris Lutz is a contributing writer covering climate, the environment and the economy. She is particularly interested in stories that explore the intersections between climate change and labor, markets, health, biodiversity, government transparency and public access to natural resources.
