Police say Vine Grove man arrested, charged with murder after 3 bodies found in home

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police said a man in Vine Grove, Kentucky, is facing three counts of murder after three dead bodies were found in a Breckinridge County home.

According to authorities, 28-year-old Tyler Wehmeyer was arrested by Kentucky State Police just after 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Police said the investigation began when deputies with the Breckinridge County Sheriff's Office were sent to a home on High Plains Road in Vine Grove at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday to check on the welfare of someone inside.

A spokesman for Kentucky State Police said the home technically has a Vine Grove postal address, despite being located in Breckinridge County. (Vine Grove is located in Hardin County.)

When they arrived, they found three bodies, according to court documents.

Kentucky State Police identified the deceased as 77-year-old Audrey Whealan, 51-year-old Michelle Whealan and 58-year-old Doss Smothers. Smothers was found outside the home, according to police.

All three of the victims appeared to have injuries caused by "blunt force trauma," according to police.

Police said Wehmeyer admitted to killing all three of the individuals. He also allegedly admitted to moving two of the bodies.

Additionally, Wehmeyer admitted to killing two dogs at the home, according to police.

David Carroll lives across the street from where the murders occurred.

He said the normally peaceful street was still roped off by police tape Thursday morning.

Carroll said Wehmeyer lived in the home, but did not know what his relationship was to the three victims.

"He never really came across as a weirdo or anything, seemed like he was a nice young guy," he said.

Carroll said Audrey Whealan lived in the house since the 80s, and Michelle was her daughter.

"It's really eye opening," Carroll said. "Wouldn't think something like that would happen here out in the country."

Wehmeyer is charged with three counts of murder, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and two counts of second-degree cruelty to animals. He is currently being held in the Breckinridge County Detention Center.