Update in Petras' Murder Case - FOX 25/48 - WLAX/WEUX La Crosse & Eau Claire News

La Crosse Police now say the suspect in a double murder at an area business killed a man and his son as he tried to rob the place is in custody.

39-year-old Jeffrey Lepsch of Dakota, Minnesota is facing murder charges in the deaths of A.J. and Paul Petras.

They were found shot to death in May's Photo on main street in La Crosse more than 3-weeks ago. Tonight, Lepsch is in jail.

It was surveillance video that showed that Jeffery Lepsch was the last man to leave Mays Photo on September 15th.

"Police were able to obtain surveillance video from various businesses in the area of Mays Photo shop and police observed a male subject wearing a grey sweatshirt with a hood over his head carrying a backpack enter at 1:53 p.m. The same subject exits the business at 2:58 p.m. carrying 4 bags including the backpack filled with unknown items," said Police Chief Ronald Tischer.

Police say more than $16,000 worth of equipment was stolen, a safe had been cleaned out, and another had bullet holes in it.

Police say Lepsch was likely trying to sell the gear.

"Police determined he had ties on his facebook page to National Camera Exchange, Nikon, Canon and other photography based organizations. Enrapture Photography he apparently owned," said Tischer.

Investigators found some of the stolen equipment in Lepsch's home.

Lepsch hasn't admitted to the crime and was interrogated for one hour by the police before he requested legal council.

Lepsch appeared in Winona court Thursday morning, and La Crosse District Attorney Tim Gruenke believes it could be months before Lepsch enters the La Crosse courthouse.

Finding the answers to some of their questions has friends of the Petras family getting some closure.

"Emotions range from relief that they found him to rage and in between is sorrow that dominates the whole picture," said Paul Petras's good fried Ted Whitney.

Whitney was at the news conference, he planned to pass the information on to Petras's wife Sherri.

"I talk to her just about every day. There are good days and bad days and that's what you expect for a tragedy like this," said Whitney.

Police also questioned Lepsch's wife. Chief Tischer doesn't believe she is involved.

"Coming to rest is only the initial part of the investigation, we still have a lot of work to do before we can bring this case before the courts," said Tischer.