Actions

NC man accused of killing 4, including his 2 children with claw hammer

Posted at 1:25 PM, Aug 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-17 23:26:04-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- A man wanted for the murder of a woman and her three children in  Greenville, North Carolina, was arrested in Richmond just before late Tuesday.

Dibon Toone is wanted for the murder of four people in Greenville, North Carolina. Greenville detectives said Wednesday that they believe Toone killed his girlfriend and her three small girls—ages 6, 7, and 11. Toone is the father of the two youngest victims.

Multiple law enforcement sources tell CBS 6 a claw hammer was used to all four victims. Those sources say they died from blunt force trauma.

3 children

Richmond police officers and detectives responded to reports of a stolen SUV at the parking lot of the Hopkins Store off Hopkins Road just before midnight.

Investigators were able to disable the vehicle's engine using OnStar technology, according to store employees and police radio traffic.  An employee at the Hopkins Store, who did not know Toone was a quadruple murder suspect, was trying to help Toone with his vehicle before police moved in.

Detectives said Toone stole his girlfriend's work SUV from Greenville and drove up to Richmond.

We got recordings of the police scanner from Tuesday night. One officer can be heard saying:

"We're good to drive by one more time to take a look at him and then we can approach him."

Richmond police, in cooperation with the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force, arrested the 39-year-old and took him into custody.

mugshot

WTVR CBS 6 News also learned that Toone has a criminal record in Richmond as well.

Toone has a felony robbery charge in Richmond and felony larceny charge in North Carolina.  Court documents in Virginia show Toone lived at an apartment complex off Walmsley Blvd. in Richmond at some point.

Greenville police say so far, Toone is just being held on one count of murder for the girlfriend’s death. She has  been identified as Garlette Rosette Howard. Investigators say they will obtain additional murder charges for the children.

Toone, who is being held at the Richmond City Justice Center, is scheduled to appear at Manchester Courthouse Thursday at 9 a.m. for an extradition hearing.

Police said Toone has family ties to Central Virginia.  CBS 6 made multiple attempts to contact family members Wednesday, but was unsuccessful.

Stay with WTVR.com and watch CBS 6 News starting at 5 p.m. for updates on this developing story. 

CBS6-News-at-4pm-and-Jennifer-Hudson-480x360.jpg

Entertainment

Watch 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' weekdays at 3 p.m. on CBS 6!

📱 Download CBS 6 News App
The app features breaking news alerts, live video, weather radar, traffic incidents, closings and delays and more.