Suspect in 4 killings will return to Cincinnati

CINCINNATI — A man arrested in Connecticut in connection with the killing of four people in suburban Cincinnati agreed Wednesday not to contest his return to Ohio, where family members of the victims say they are praying for murder convictions.

Gurpreet Singh appeared in New Haven Superior Court where a judge ordered him held without bail. A message seeking comment was left for a public defender who had briefly represented Singh.

It wasn’t clear when Singh will be brought to Ohio.

Ajaib Singh identified himself as the brother of two victims in the April slayings and said the family was thankful for the efforts of West Chester police, other law enforcement agencies and the Sikh community of the Cincinnati region.

“We have full faith in Chief (Joel) Herzog’s team and pray for murder convictions in the court,” the statement said.

The statement comes after Tuesday’s arrest in Connecticut of 37-year-old Gurpreet Singh. He was the husband of one of the victims, and son-in-law of her parents, who along with her aunt were also fatally shot.

Police in Branford, Connecticut, said they arrested Singh without incident Tuesday afternoon in a Walmart store parking lot after acting on information from West Chester police that he was staying in a home near there.

The four victims were fatally shot on April 28 in their home. Police say the suspect called 911 to say he had found them “on the ground and bleeding.”

Those killed were identified as Shalinderjit Kaur, 39; Amarjit Kaur, 58; Parmjit Kaur, 62; and Hakikat Singh Pannag, 59. Each had at least two gunshot wounds to the head. The suspect also lived in the apartment.

After the slayings, Gurpreet Singh said he and Shalinderjit Kaur had been married for 17 years and had three children. Family members identified Parmjit Kaur and Hakikat Pannag as his wife’s parents and Amarjit Kaur as Parmjit Kaur’s sister.

Herzog, the West Chester police chief, called the slayings a “heinous crime” Tuesday but said authorities haven’t discussed a possible motive or other details.

Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser said the case will be presented to a grand jury, which could help determine whether the suspect would face the death penalty upon conviction.

Gurpreet Singh is a truck driver who told The Cincinnati Enquirer he was often away from home. Their three children were staying with other relatives at the time of the slayings, and police said Tuesday they were safe.