Laytonville Murder update states suspect was supposed to have been in foster placement and living with the family

----UPDATE TO THE LIVE PRESS CONFERENCE OF 07/19/2015----

On 7/19/2015 around 12:46 AM the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) received a 911 call from the 46000 Block of South Meadow Lane in Laytonville California.  This call was made by a female juvenile who was trying to summon aid to the location.  Within a short period of time a male, later identified as Talen Barton, took over the call and a lengthy conversation ensued. In this conversation the Barton admitted to stabbing four people in the home with two of these persons being deceased and the other two needing medical aid for life threatening wounds.  A MCSO Dispatcher obtained driving directions and as responding deputies arrived, talked the suspect into placing the knife down and exiting the residence where he surrendered without incident.

After securing the suspect, deputies made a protective sweep of the residence.  In the downstairs area of the house they located two female juveniles, a 54 year old female and a 52 year old male.  Both adults had suffered multiple life threatening stab wounds to the neck and chest.  Upstairs the deputies located 52 year old Coleman Palmieri and his 17 year old son Teo Palmieri, both deceased.  Both appeared to have suffered multiple stab wounds about the neck and chest.

Medical aid was summoned and responding members of Laytonville Fire and Cal Fire responded to provide aid.  Both adult victims were transported via air ambulance to nearby trauma centers, one to Redding Mercy Hospital and the second to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

MCSO learned the surviving adults in the home were siblings with the adult male and his daughter recently arriving from Canada to visit family members and to attend a local summer camp for youth.  The two surviving juveniles (cousins) were later taken into protective custody by Child Protection Services until they could be placed with other family members.  The Canadian authorities were notified of the incident and have been working with MCSO and CPS to make notifications as well as reunification efforts.

The suspect was reported to have been in the foster placement system and had been living with the family on Meadow Lane for over a year.  It is unknown if he was "officially" placed with the family by a Child Protective Services Agency.  The family was described by many had "having taken him (suspect) in" and trying their best to make a home for him as well as recently trying to help him get enrolled in College in Humboldt County.

The suspect admitted to being a heavy marijuana user but denied using any other controlled substances.  There were no other controlled substances found at the scene.

At this time there is no clear motive for the attacks.  The investigation is continuing and MCSO is requesting anyone with pertinent information to contact the Sheriff's Office Detectives Division at (707)463-4111 or the tip line at (707)234-2100.