Update #2, 04/13/2017: 

Gwinnett County Police have charged 19 year old Johnny Rider and 17 year old Cassandra Bjorge with Murder and Aggravated Assault for the deaths of 63 year old Wendy and Randall Bjorge. The victims are Cassandra’s grandparents. According to the Medical Examiner, the manner of death for both victims was homicide and the cause of death for both victims was an incision to the throat. Both victims also suffered blunt force trauma and sharp force injuries.

We believe that the couple died approximately tne week prior to being found on April 8^th. Gwinnett County Police responded to the location several times beginning April 6^th and attempted welfare checks by the request of family members. At the time, there was no obvious cause to enter the location by force. On April 9^th when the couples vehicle was recovered at the assault scene on Rambling Woods Drive, it was determined that force should be used to enter the home. That is when the bodies were discovered.

We have reason to believe that after the homicides, teens that have not been accounted for may have been inside the home. These teens were unrelated to the actual homicides but they may have information that proves to be critical for the homicide investigation. We would ask parents that live in that area to talk to their teens to see if they were at the house or had contact with the suspects between April 1^st and April 8^th. If they had contact with the suspects or were at the house we would like to talk to them.

Between October of 2015 and March of 2017 Gwinnett County Police responded to 1911 Furlong Run in Lawrenceville 31 times for various reasons. Out of that number we responded 18 times for Runaway Calls and at least eight times for COAP (check often as possible) by request of neighbors. There were several other Domestic Dispute Calls and Illegal Drug Suspicion Calls answered at the location.

This is a very unique and disturbing case on so many levels and detectives are still exploring motive. We may never find a scenario that makes sense to a reasonable person.

Case Timeline:

April 06, 2017 6:09 p.m.: Welfare check requested for 1911 Furlong Run, Lawrenceville by family member who had not heard from couple in approximately one week. Police responded knocked on the door and nothing suspicious was noted.

April 06, 2017 8:19 p.m.: COAP (check often as possible) requested at 1911 Furlong Run, Lawrenceville due to not having any contact with couple.

April 07, 2017 4:43 p.m.: Welfare check requested for 1911 Furlong Run, Lawrenceville by family member who had not heard from couple. Police responded knocked on the door and nothing suspicious was noted.

April 07, 2017 8:58 p.m.: Missing Person’s report filed by family members for Randall Bjorge.

April 08, 2017 8:30 p.m.: Assault investigation at 1685 Rambling Woods Drive Lawrenceville. Johnny Rider and an unknown female attacked Riders sister and her boyfriend. Wendy and Randall Bjorge’s vehicle found at the location.   

April 08, 2017 11:13 p.m.: Police force entry into 1911 Furlong Run, Lawrenceville and the two victims are discovered dead.

April 08, 2017 11:29 p.m.: Johnny Rider and Cassandra Bjorge steal his sister’s vehicle from 1685 Rambling Woods.

April 09, 2017 3:57 a.m.: Stolen vehicle found at 4025 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suwanee building 800. Surveillance initiated on vehicle.

April 09, 2017 9:54 a.m.: SWAT activation at 4025 McGinnis Ferry Road.

April 09, 2017 12:13 p.m. SWAT apprehends Johnny Rider and Cassandra Bjorge at the location and they are transported to the hospital with self-inflicted knife wounds to their wrists.

Update #1, 04/09/2017:

The Gwinnett County police responded to an assault call off of Rambling Woods Drive, Lawrenceville unincorporated Gwinnett on the night of April 8, 2017. There, two victims had been beaten by their family member, 19 year old Johnny Ryder. Ryder was in company with his 17 year old girlfriend, Cassandra Bjorge. Due to the injuries, warrants were obtained for Ryder. While at the scene, Officers located a vehicle belonging to 63 year old Wendy and Randall Bjorge, the grandparents of Cassandra. Officers had previously been to the home of Wendy and Randall earlier in the week for welfare checks and were unable to make contact. Because of the crime at hand, Officers decided to again make a welfare check at their home. Officers were unable to make contact and made entry into the home. Wendy and Randall were found deceased in the upstairs area of their home. Their deaths were apparent homicides. The location of Cassandra Bjorge and Johnny Ryder were still unknown.

Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel worked throughout the night and received information on the morning of April 9, 2017 leading them to the location of Cassandra Bjorge and Johnny Ryder. They were found in the 800 building at the Residences at McGinnis Ferry at 4000 McGinnis Ferry Rd in the city limits of Suwanee. Officers attempted to make contact and the suspects refused to exit the apartment. The Gwinnett County SWAT team was activated. After a short time, the SWAT team made entry into the home and located the suspects suffering from self-inflicted wounds. The suspects were transported to Gwinnett Medical Center-Lawrenceville for treatment. No officers were injured during the event.

Cassandra Bjorge and Johnny Ryder are under investigation for the homicides of Wendy and Randal Bjorge. No charges for the homicides have been obtained and the manner of death and motives are still unknown pending further investigation.

(MPO David Smith)

Original, 04/08/2017:

(Lawrenceville, Georgia) The Gwinnett County Police Department is currently investigating a double homicide in the 1900 block of Furlong Run in Lawrenceville, Ga in unincorporated Gwinnett County. The Gwinnett County 911 center received calls from family members asking for a welfare check at the incident location as they had not heard from their family members in some time. Uniformed Officers came to the residence and attempted to make contact. Officers entered the home to find the elderly couple deceased. The incident is being investigated as a homicide. The manner of death and possible suspect(s) are still under investigation. There is not much information as the investigation is still preliminary. The identity of the victims is being withheld pending notification to the family members.

The Gwinnett County Police Department is committed to finding justice for this couple taken too soon from their family. (MPO David Smith)

If anyone has any information to share in this case, please contact the Homicide Unit at 770 513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact 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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