Affidavit: Father admits shooting children
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Manuel Gehring
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CONCORD, New Hampshire (CNN) -- The New Hampshire father accused of killing his two children told investigators he shot his son and daughter with his 9 mm handgun on the side of the road in New Hampshire and hours later "buried them in shallow graves" in Ohio, according to police affidavits released Wednesday.
Manuel Gehring, 44, is charged with killing his children, Sarah, 14, and Philip, 11, although their bodies have not been found.
"Gehring told police that he pulled the van over and shot them with the handgun," the affidavit says.
After allegedly shooting the two on July 4, Gehring drove -- with the bodies in the car -- to a Wal-Mart in Grove City, Pennsylvania, where he said he bought a shovel, pick axe, scissors, plastic sheeting, duct tape and cutting blades, according to the affidavit. A receipt from the store also confirmed those items were purchased.
The affidavit says Gehring then drove three to four hours to "an unknown location along Interstate 80 in Ohio," exited and drove to a secluded spot about 2-3 miles away where he "dug two graves for his children."
"He told police that he said a prayer, fashioned a cross made of duct tape across the chest of both children, and buried them in shallow graves," the affidavit says.
Fearing he would get caught, he then drove to Gilroy, California, where he was arrested July 10.
The affidavit says his van contained blood on the inside, including "material that appeared consistent with brain matter on the floor." It says a seat belt was "saturated with blood."
"There was an area of carpet that had been cut from the floor of the van and there was pooling of blood in this area," according to the affidavit.
Sarah and Philip were last seen July 4.
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Inside the van, investigators also found two apparent bullet holes covered with duct tape, as well as bullet fragments from a 9 mm round, according to the affidavit.
Authorities have said Gehring was last seen with his children Fourth of July at a fireworks display in Concord, where witnesses said he got into a heated argument with his daughter.
According to the affidavit, Gehring told police he returned to his apartment with the children after the fireworks display, got his handgun and then headed out on the road. He shot the children 30 to 45 minutes later, the affidavit said.
