texas

Fort Worth Man Accused of Killing Wife, Son Extradited

A 35-year-old man arrested in Colorado in connection with the killing of his wife and infant son in Fort Worth has been extradited to North Texas.

Craig Vandewege was transported from the Garfield County Jail in Colorado Monday night to the Tarrant County Jail.

Fort Worth police said Vandewege called 911 Dec. 15 to report he came home from work and found his wife, Shanna Riddle Vandewege, and their 3-month-old son, Diederik, dead.

Their throats had been slashed, officials said.

Vandewege was later seen in Colorado where police said he borrowed a phone from a 7-Eleven clerk and was overheard talking about a murder. The clerk called 911.

When Colorado police later pulled Vandewege over for speeding, he calmly told them his wife and son had been murdered. He added that he was having a "long week" because he was being blamed.

A police report states Vandewege had four guns and ammunition with him in the vehicle.

Vandewege told officers that his family moved from the Denver area in early 2016 and that he had returned to bury them. He also said he was on his way to Las Vegas because he had heard three people had been arrested in connection with the deaths of his wife and son.

Glenwood Springs police said the officers arrested Vandewege for not having insurance and speeding because he could pose a threat to public safety "in his state with numerous loaded firearms."

Vandewege was set to be released from custody when Glenwood Springs police received a warrant from Fort Worth to arrest him for suspicion of murder.

Vandewege is expected to appear in a Tarrant County court on Jan. 12 at 9 a.m.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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