CASE FILE: B.l/00dbath in Beason: The Horrific Gee Family [email protected]/s.a/c/re.
CASE FILE: THE GEE FAMILY M.@/S./S/A.C/RE INVESTIGATION
B.l/0.0/dbath in Beason: The Brutal M*rder of the Gee Family and the Dark Truth Behind a Small Town Nightmare
Multiple Homicide Investigation Report
Narrative by Detective Brian Coldwel
Logan County Sheriff’s Office – Major Crimes Division, Illinois
PROLOGUE – THE NIGHT A QUIET TOWN BECAME A CRIME SCENE
Some communities are defined by their peacefulness.
Small towns where neighbors know each other.
Where doors are left unlocked.
Where families believe they are safe inside their own homes.
But on a September night in 2009, the small Illinois town of Beason became the scene of one of the most horrifying family massacres in the state’s history.
The Gee family had built a quiet life in their rural community.
Rick Gee was a hardworking businessman.
Ruth Gee was a loving mother.
Their children:
Justina Gee, 16
Dylan Gee, 14
Austin Gee, 11
Tabitha Gee, 3
were known as a close family.
They lived in a home surrounded by farmland, animals, and the ordinary routines of small-town life.
But one night, everything changed.
The next morning, a young boy riding his bicycle made a terrifying discovery.
Blood covered the front porch.
The door was partially open.
Inside the home was a scene so violent that experienced investigators struggled to process what they saw.
Rick Gee.
Ruth Gee.
Dylan.
Austin.
Justina.
All had been brutally murdered.
Only one child survived:
Three-year-old Tabitha.
The investigation quickly became one of the largest criminal investigations in the region.
Detectives uncovered:
A violent crime spree
Stolen property
A hidden motive involving sexual intentions
False alibis
Physical evidence linking the killers to the home
The case eventually led investigators to Christopher Harris and his brother Jason Harris.
Prosecutors argued that Christopher Harris was responsible for the massacre.
But the case also raised difficult questions:
How could such violence happen inside a peaceful community?
Could the tragedy have been prevented?
And why did one surviving child have to endure the unimaginable loss of her entire family?
CHAPTER 1 – THE GEE FAMILY OF BEASON
Beason, Illinois, was a small rural community.
With a population of only a few hundred people, it was the type of town where:
Neighbors recognized each other
Families stayed for generations
Crime was extremely rare
The Gee family represented the kind of household people trusted.
CHAPTER 2 – WHO WAS RICK GEE?
Rick Gee was known as a hardworking man.
From a young age, he learned the value of work.
He worked construction jobs before eventually building his own company:
G-C Construction
Rick purchased property outside Beason.
The home included:
A ranch-style house
A detached garage
Farmland
Animals
A family environment
He built the life he wanted for himself and his daughter Nicole.
CHAPTER 3 – THE FAMILY GROWS
Rick’s life changed when Ruth Constant moved into his home as a tenant.
Ruth had two young children:
Justina
Dylan
Over time, Rick and Ruth developed a relationship.
They married in 1997.
Together they welcomed:
Austin Gee
Jessica Gee
Their family continued growing.
CHAPTER 4 – THE CHILDREN OF THE GEE FAMILY
Each child had their own story.
Justina Gee
At 16 years old, Justina was becoming a young woman.
She was intelligent and outgoing.
Dylan Gee
Dylan was 14.
He struggled with behavioral issues and was diagnosed with ADHD.
His family worked to support him.
Austin Gee
Austin was 11.
He was part of the younger generation of the family.
Tabitha Gee
Tabitha was only 3 years old.
She was the youngest child.
CHAPTER 5 – THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MURDER
In September 2009, the Gee family went to sleep like any other night.
There was no warning.
No obvious threat.
No reason to believe danger was coming.
The children went to bed.
The family settled into their normal routine.
But before sunrise, their lives would be destroyed.
CHAPTER 6 – THE DISCOVERY THAT SHOCKED BEASON
The first person to discover something was wrong was a 10-year-old boy named Satan Lanstrom.
He rode his bicycle to the Gee home.
He wanted to show off his new bike.
But when he reached the porch, he stopped.
There was blood.
Blood on:
The porch
The door area
The door was slightly open.
Terrified, he rushed to get help.
CHAPTER 7 – ENTERING THE HOUSE
Rick’s stepfather Adam was one of the first adults to enter.
When he opened the door and turned on the lights, he saw something impossible to forget.
Rick Gee was lying in the hallway.
A large amount of blood covered the floor.
Adam immediately ran outside and called 911.
CHAPTER 8 – THE CRIME SCENE
When police arrived, they entered a scene of extreme violence.
At first, investigators believed a shotgun may have been involved.
But as they examined the evidence, the truth became even more disturbing.
The family had not been killed by gunfire.
They had been beaten.
CHAPTER 9 – THE VICTIMS INSIDE THE HOME
Investigators discovered:
Rick Gee
Found in the hallway.
He suffered dozens of injuries.
Dylan Gee
Found near the master bedroom.
He suffered devastating head injuries.
Ruth Gee
Found inside the bedroom.
She had suffered massive trauma.
Austin Gee
Found inside the bathroom.
Justina Gee
Found in her bedroom.
Investigators described her injuries as among the most severe.
CHAPTER 10 – THE SURVIVING CHILD
While searching the home, officers discovered something unexpected.
Inside a closet was three-year-old Tabitha.
She was badly injured.
But she was alive.
A paramedic immediately carried her out.
She was rushed to the hospital.
The survival of the youngest child became the only hope in a scene of unimaginable loss.
CHAPTER 11 – TABITHA’S FIGHT FOR LIFE
Doctors discovered Tabitha had:
Multiple skull fractures
Severe brain swelling
Serious injuries
Medical staff performed emergency procedures.
They removed portions of her skull to reduce pressure.
Despite everything she suffered, Tabitha survived.
CHAPTER 12 – THE AUTOPSIES REVEAL THE HORROR
The autopsies changed investigators’ understanding of the crime.
The deaths were not caused by a shotgun.
Instead:
The family had been beaten.
The injuries showed prolonged violence.
CHAPTER 13 – THE SCALE OF THE ATTACK
Investigators documented:
Rick Gee
Approximately 39 impact wounds.
13 to the head.
Ruth Gee
Approximately 28 injuries.
Austin Gee
At least 21 strikes.
Dylan Gee
More than 100 injuries.
Justina Gee
Severe injuries including major skull trauma.
CHAPTER 14 – THE FIRST CLUES
Investigators collected:
A bloody handprint
Shoe impressions
Witness reports
Vehicle information
One important clue:
A shoe print near the crime scene.
The shoe pattern matched K-Swiss footwear.
CHAPTER 15 – THE SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE
A neighbor reported seeing:
A silver pickup truck.
The vehicle appeared unusual.
It had exhaust pipes coming through the truck bed.
Investigators began searching for vehicles matching the description.
CHAPTER 16 – THE INVESTIGATION STALLS
Despite evidence, detectives struggled.
The Gee family had no obvious enemies.
Neighbors described them as:
Kind
Generous
Well-liked
There was no clear motive.
The killer appeared to have chosen the home randomly.
CHAPTER 17 – THE HOSPITAL BREAKTHROUGH
A major breakthrough came unexpectedly.
While guarding Tabitha at the hospital, an officer noticed someone:
Chris Harris.
The officer recognized his shoes.
They resembled the shoe print found at the crime scene.
CHAPTER 18 – CHRISTOPHER HARRIS BECOMES A SUSPECT
Investigators examined Chris Harris.
At first, his family defended him.
They claimed:
He was innocent
He had an alibi
He was being unfairly accused
Nicole Gee strongly defended him publicly.
CHAPTER 19 – THE FALSE ALIBIS
Investigators discovered problems with the alibis.
Chris’s brother Jason initially supported him.
But evidence contradicted their story.
People who provided alibis were later accused of obstruction.
CHAPTER 20 – THE EVIDENCE AGAINST CHRIS
Investigators discovered:
Palm print evidence
Shoe evidence
DNA evidence
The evidence connected Chris to the crime.
CHAPTER 21 – THE WITNESS WHO CHANGED EVERYTHING
A woman named Lori Cole came forward.
She was an armed security guard living nearby.
She reported that on the night of the murders:
Chris and Jason came to her home.
They appeared to have been drinking.
They wanted to continue the night.
Her statement placed the brothers near the area.
CHAPTER 22 – THE SECOND WOMAN’S TESTIMONY
Christy Moore, another woman connected to Chris, also spoke with investigators.
She stated Chris contacted her after the murders.
She met with him the next day.
She said:
He acted normally
He showed no injuries
He did not appear disturbed
CHAPTER 23 – JASON HARRIS BREAKS HIS SILENCE
Facing serious charges, Jason eventually changed his story.
He claimed:
Christopher was responsible.
Jason said:
Chris planned the attack
Chris entered the home
Chris killed the family
CHAPTER 24 – THE MOTIVE THEORY
According to Jason’s testimony, Chris had a disturbing motive.
Prosecutors argued Chris wanted to attack Justina.
They claimed he believed she was interested in him.
The alleged motive involved sexual intent.
CHAPTER 25 – THE NIGHT OF THE MASSACRE
Jason’s account described:
The brothers partying.
Drug and alcohol use.
Searching for female company.
Eventually arriving at the Gee home.
Jason claimed he stayed outside.
Chris entered.
Violence followed.
CHAPTER 26 – THE TIRE IRON EVIDENCE
Investigators recovered:
A tire iron
K-Swiss shoes
DNA testing connected these items to:
Chris Harris
The Gee family
The evidence became central to the prosecution.
CHAPTER 27 – THE TRIAL OF CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
Prosecutors argued:
Christopher Harris committed a brutal family massacre.
The defense argued:
He acted in self-defense during an encounter with Dylan.
The jury rejected the defense.
CHAPTER 28 – THE VERDICT
On May 31, 2013:
Christopher Harris was found guilty.
Charges included:
Five counts of first-degree murder
Attempted murder
Home invasion
Robbery
CHAPTER 29 – THE SENTENCE
Christopher Harris received:
Five consecutive life sentences
30 years for attempted murder
30 years for home invasion
20 years for robbery
He will spend the rest of his life in prison.
CHAPTER 30 – THE AFTERMATH
Jason Harris received a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony.
Many questioned whether his punishment was fair.
Some argued he should have faced harsher consequences.
Others recognized that his testimony helped secure justice.
CHAPTER 31 – TABITHA’S RECOVERY
Tabitha survived.
After multiple surgeries, she recovered.
She eventually lived with her sister Nicole.
The child who lost her entire family was given a chance to rebuild her life.
FINAL NOTE – DETECTIVE BRIAN COLDWEL
The Beason massacre remains one of the most disturbing crimes in Illinois history.
A family home became a place of unimaginable violence.
Six lives were changed forever.
Five people lost their lives.
One child survived.
The investigation revealed how evidence can slowly uncover the truth:
A shoe print.
A fingerprint.
DNA.
Witness testimony.
A confession.
But beyond the courtroom and evidence files are the victims:
Rick.
Ruth.
Justina.
Dylan.
Austin.
And Tabitha, the child who survived.
Dylan Gee was later remembered not only as a victim, but as someone who fought to protect his family.
The Gee family massacre was a tragedy.
But their story remains a reminder of courage, survival, and the importance of remembering those who were lost.
CASE STATUS: CLOSED – CONVICTION OBTAINED
DEFENDANT: CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
VICTIMS: RICK GEE / RUTH GEE / JUSTINA GEE / DYLAN GEE / AUSTIN GEE
SURVIVOR: TABITHA GEE
KEY EVIDENCE: DNA / SHOE PRINT / PALM PRINT / TIRE IRON / WITNESS TESTIMONY
