Arrest in Lutz triple murder

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• Description : TAMPA - Deputies have made an arres...(more)t in connection with a gruesome triple murder in Lutz. 35-year-old Edward Covington is charged with three counts of first degree murder, three counts of abuse of dead human bodies, one count of cruelty to animals, and one count of violating probation. He is charged with the murders of Lisa Freiberg and her two children, 7-year-old Zachary and 2-year-old Heather Savannah. Their bodies were discovered inside their mobile home on Mobile Villa Drive in Lutz on Monday. Hillsborough Chief Deputy Jose Docobo said there was a substantial amount of physical evidence linking Covington to the three deaths. Docobo also said Covington admitted his involvement in the murders. 'Absoutley horrific' crime scene Investigators said the three victims were mutilated and dismembered. Sheriff David Gee said that at least one of the victims was decapitated. Docobo also said the crime scene was among the most horrific scenes he and many other investigators had ever seen. "It has been very, very difficult for investigators and everyone involved. It's absolutely horrific to have top deal with this type of crime," Docobo said. Docobo said the murders occurred Sunday morning. Covington stayed in the house until Monday when deputies found him hiding in the house. The family's dog was also found dead inside the home. The sheriff said more than one weapon was used in the murder. Covington's arrest report showed that he tested positive for cocaine. Victim's parents were worried In a brief conversation with FOX 13 Wednesday, Freiberg's parents described her as "a loving person," saying "she gave her heart; she gave her life." Lisa's mom Barbara and dad Keith also indicated they wondered about their daughter's new boyfriend -- the man deputies found hiding in a closet just steps away from three mutilated, dismembered, and decapitated bodies. The Freibergs said they looked online for information about Edward Covington, digging as deep as a private investigator would. "We did everything we could," they said. Suspect is former prison guard Covington is the son of an officer who worked in Florida law enforcement for more than ten years himself. Covington is a former prison guard. Detectives say he choked, beat, stabbed, dismembered and mutilated Frieburg, and both of her children the morning of Mother's Day. Then he hid in their closet until deputies found him the following day... Detectives say he went on and on about how he did it -- but wouldn't say why he did it. He did say he sold his motorcycle for some crack the week before, and he tested positive for cocaine the day after the murders. His family said he was bi-polar, and a bay area doctor said he had called her to join a study on bi-polar illness. He had been baker-acted for mutilating his cats--but never prosecuted... Attorneys say that's not unusual. They say back then he needed therapy more than prison... "Quite frankly the problem is more than killing cats. He didn't get help when he needed it," said Stephen Crawford, a local defense attorney. (less)