Finnish Teenagers Apprehended in Murder of Group Home Caregiver UPDATED

“A murder investigation is underway after a worker at a home for looked-after children was found dead in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police say they were called to the home in Muhos, near Oulu, early on Saturday, and discovered the 57-year-old victim dead at the scene.

The suspects fled by stealing a car belonging to the home, and were later apprehended in the town of Kuopio. They are described as being between 15 and 18 years old.

According to its website the Metsola group home has places for five boys, most of whom have been through the foster care system.

Group home manager Kati Lehtola described the atmosphere at the institution as one of shock. She said she has been asked by police not to comment on the incident.

”We don’t understand how something like this could happen, we protect children here,” she said.

She said that crisis help was being given to the youngsters and staff at the home, assisted by police and social workers.

Oulu Police have not yet released any details of the circumstances leading to the man’s death, nor of the suspects. But Inspector Petri Savela said that more than one person was involved in the killing, and that the details of the incident point to it being a murder.

He added that police are confident they are aware of the method and weapon behind the man’s death, and that more information will be made public next week at the earliest.”

Police apprehend youngsters after murder at group care home[YLE 7/25/15]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 

Update:“The country’s broadest circulation daily Helsingin Sanomat reports that the public health watchdog Valvira is to begin an investigation into the murder of a senior worker at the Metsola foster home for troubled underage boys in Muhos, near Oulu.

Police have held a number of young residents of the home on suspicion of murder. The perpetrators allegedly fled the scene in a stolen vehicle and were later rounded up in Kuopio. Police say they know how the crime was committed but have not divulged that information, nor further details about the number of suspects involved.

The 58 year-old victim had apparently been working alone at the facility at the time of the incident on Friday night. While police investigate the motive for the crime, Valvira and local administrative officials are to begin looking into the foster home’s operations its personnel policies.

The Metsola home can accommodate five young men at a time and personnel are specially trained to work with challenging cases.”

Monday’s papers: Finns Party under scrutiny again, probe into foster home killing and shelters call for cash [YLE 7/27/15]