Coroner's jury rules homicide in Beason family deaths

[December 08, 2009]  It was late afternoon on Sept. 21 when a chilling event gripped Logan County residents. That was the day when authorities were called to a Beason residence where six members of a family were found assaulted. One member of the family, 3-year-old Tabitha Gee, survived her attackers. Five other members of the family -- her father, Raymond "Rick" Gee, 46; mother, Ruth A. Gee, 39; and three siblings, Justina M. Constant, 16, Dillen A. Constant, 14, and Austin M. Gee, 11, who reportedly were last seen later the day before -- were found bludgeoned to death in their home.

Yesterday evening one more step in the process of resolving those deaths took place as Logan County Coroner Robert Thomas conducted an inquest.

Without identifying anyone by name, Thomas began by saying that all six jurors were Logan County residents.

He then addressed the jurors, explaining that they would be given the pertinent information concerning the victims' deaths. Their job would be to determine the cause and manner of death of each victim. Cause and manner of death are needed to go on a permanent death certificate but have nothing to do with civil nor criminal trial procedings, he said.

Death is either caused by disease or injury and evidenced in a number of ways; witnesses, toxicology reports and autopsy results all support that decision. The manner of death has five categories based on intent: natural, accidental, suicide, homicide or undetermined.

Thomas added that due to the nature of the case, information presented would be "kept close to the cuff." He then called Logan County Sheriff Steven Nichols as witness.

Nichols gave testimony to the related events and evidence on Sept. 21. Nichols said that his office and EMS were contacted to go to 1571 2150th Ave. about a possible death. "Upon entering the scene, a member of my agency observed five members that were deceased and there was one family member that was still alive," he said.

Nichols testified that Dr. Ralston of Springfield conducted the autopsies. Naming each member of the Gee family, the autopsy results were the same for all five victims. Ralston's findings concluded that craniocerebral injuries due to multiple blunt force trauma due to assault was the cause of death.

Thomas said later that several officials -- including the coroner's office, the sheriff's office and the sheriff's associates in the case, which also includes the state's attorney's office -- reviewed the autopsy results.

Nichols affirmed that there is still an ongoing investigation, but that there are two suspects in custody. He had nothing further he could add without jeopardizing the investigation.

The jurors had no questions and adjourned to deliberate at approximately 6:22 p.m.

Nine minutes later they returned.

All six jurors were in agreement and they had five verdict statements. Naming the victims one by one -- Raymond Gee, Ruth Gee, Justina Constant, Dillen Constant and Austin Gee -- the jurors found sufficient evidence to rule homicide as the manner of death in all five deaths.

Thomas explained following the inquest that it is standard procedure for his office to conduct an inquest when there is more than one person or party involved in a death, such as two vehicles involved in an accident; or if there are extreme circumstances.

He further explained that the ruling allows him to complete the death certificates. The certificates serve many purposes that will benefit surviving family members in the future. He thought the certificates may be on file as soon as later tomorrow.

Family and friends of the family who were present gathered around the coroner after the media crowd cleared. Thomas told them that he hoped having another step of closure might be some comfort for them.

[LDN staff]