Lesbian Couple, Two Kids Murdered in Upstate New York

A lesbian couple and their two children were killed in what police are calling a savage manner this week in their apartment in Troy, N.Y., near Albany.

A property manager discovered the bodies Tuesday in the basement apartment after receiving a request to check on the unit, and the identifying details, although not the names, were released Wednesday.

Troy police said the victims were two women, aged 36 and 22, and the older woman's 11-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, according to The Record, a Troy newspaper.

"After being in this business for nearly 42 years, I can say I have not seen savagery like this," Police Chief John Tedesco said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon. "Only a person of savagery would do something like this." He did not specify how they were killed, and said their names were being withheld until relatives were notified.

The names were released today, according to NBC News, with police identifying the victims as Shanta Myers, 36; Brandi Mells, 22; Jeremiah Myers, 11; and Shanise Myers, 5.

Tedesco said he did not believe the crime was random. "We do not believe it was a random act," he said. "We do not believe there is any imminent danger to the community."

There is no one person of interest at this point, the chief said, and he asked that anyone with information 518-270-4421 or visit the new Capital Region Crimestoppers website at www.capitalregioncrimestoppers.com.

"There's not a resource we won't tap," Tedesco said. "This will be a full-court press until somebody's brought to justice."