A Riverbank man is suspected of stabbing to death three people and wounding another in a house where they all lived together in the east part of town.
Jesse Frost, 38, was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Deputies responded on Sunday, Feb. 15 about 4 p.m. to a reported disturbance in the 6000 block of Arcaro Drive west of Claus Road and north of Kentucky Drive. They found Frost in front of the house and detained him.
Within the house, deputies discovered four adult victims, two of them women and two men. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two were transported to local hospitals. One of them died on the way to the hospital. The other victim that was transported remained in stable condition on Monday.
Late Monday, the Sheriff's Department identified the two dead women as Judy Niemi, 37, and Donna Norton, 62, but did not release the name of the third fatality, a 38-year-old dead man. An 18-year-old man who was wounded remains in the hospital, a spokesman said. All are Riverbank residents.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Darwin Hatfield at 209-525-7100. Callers can also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. They can also e-mail tips to http://www.Modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.
Neighbors said Frost lived in the house with his mother, Donna Norton, two of his three sisters, Ima Frost and Judy Frost-Niemi, and Judy's husband Tony Niemi.
While an official press release issued by the sheriff's department reported that all the victims had stab wounds, neighbors said one victim also suffered a broken neck.
Neighbors described Frost as having some mental problems and a problem with drugs. He competed in football at high school and had been rated the top heavyweight wrestler in California while competing at Modesto Junior College.
Jesse Frost, 38, was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Deputies responded on Sunday, Feb. 15 about 4 p.m. to a reported disturbance in the 6000 block of Arcaro Drive west of Claus Road and north of Kentucky Drive. They found Frost in front of the house and detained him.
Within the house, deputies discovered four adult victims, two of them women and two men. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two were transported to local hospitals. One of them died on the way to the hospital. The other victim that was transported remained in stable condition on Monday.
Late Monday, the Sheriff's Department identified the two dead women as Judy Niemi, 37, and Donna Norton, 62, but did not release the name of the third fatality, a 38-year-old dead man. An 18-year-old man who was wounded remains in the hospital, a spokesman said. All are Riverbank residents.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Darwin Hatfield at 209-525-7100. Callers can also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. They can also e-mail tips to http://www.Modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.
Neighbors said Frost lived in the house with his mother, Donna Norton, two of his three sisters, Ima Frost and Judy Frost-Niemi, and Judy's husband Tony Niemi.
While an official press release issued by the sheriff's department reported that all the victims had stab wounds, neighbors said one victim also suffered a broken neck.
Neighbors described Frost as having some mental problems and a problem with drugs. He competed in football at high school and had been rated the top heavyweight wrestler in California while competing at Modesto Junior College.
