UPDATE: Olson Weighs In on Lanham Murders

Prince George's County Councilman Eric Olson (D-Dist. 3) said he went to Friday's Lanham murder scene and talked to some residents about what he described as "a horrible scene."

"Clearly, it's a horrible crime, and I can't imagine what kind of situation it was and what was going on [before the crime]," he said.

Prince George's County police are investigating the deaths of four people whose bodies were found in the 6800 block of Third Street near Auburn Avenue early Friday morning.

Two adult females and two children under age 6 – one boy and one girl – were found dead in a room above a garage unit behind a residence, Police Chief Roberto L. Hylton said at a press conference at noon Friday. Hylton said the victims were found in a detached garage-like unit that had electricity but no running water and was cluttered with trash and debris.

"I'm disgusted by this," Hylton said. "There is so much trash, debris and filth. The Department of Public Works will be coming this afternoon to the scene."

Police received a complaint of assault between 2:45 a.m. and 3 a.m. and found the victims dead upon arrival, Hylton said. The complaint was called in by an individual the police would not identify.

Officials have not released the cause of death but say the scene was gruesome, and all four victims were killed in the same manner. Police have several people in custody at county police headquarters, Hylton said, but they still have not identified a motive.

Police believe the slaying was personal not random. The home was being leased or rented by those who lived there. According to Captain Misty Mints, there were no records of code enforcement at the property.

"There were people residing in the main house," Mints said, "and more than four people residing on this property."

Hylton said they know people were residing in the garage.

"This is a quiet community," Hylton said, adding that there have only been two break-ins in the area since the beginning of the year.

The victims' identification is being withheld until next of kin is notified, Hylton said.

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Editor's Note: Several Riverdale Park residents have asked us to clarify where this murder occurred. It is in an unicorporated area east of Riverdale Park. Police say this area can be defined as Riverdale but also Lanham and New Carrollton. Local residents call it East Pines. It is not in Riverdale Park proper, but with its proximity to Riverdale Park and its significance, we thought we should cover it.