Report: Gee family of Beason murdered with tire iron, attemped sexual assault alleged

October 28, 4:00 PMChicago Crime ExaminerDeborah O'Malley

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    Chris and Jason Harris        Police photos

Prosecutors said today the brothers charged in the murders of five family members in Beason, Illinois used a tire iron to beat the victims to death and during the attack, they attempted to sexually assault the 16-year-daughter, according to a report in the Pantagraph.

Chris Harris, 30, and his brother Jason, 22, were in court today where a grand jury returned multiple count indictments against the brothers.

The brothers both entered not guilty pleas.

The Pantagraph reports Chris faces 57 counts that include the five murders, the attempted murder of a three-year-old, the attempted criminal sexual assault of the 16-year-old victim. Other charges include armed robbery and burglary.

Jason Harris is facing those same 57 charges plus obstruction of justice charges for giving a false alibi, burning the clothing Chris wore the night of the killings and hiding a computer that was allegedly stolen from the victims' home.

Raymond and Ruth Gee and three of their children were found slaughtered in their home September 21. A 3-year-old daughter survived the attack but was critically injured.

Chris Harris was arrested October 1. He is the ex-husband of Nicole Gee, the 27-year-old daughter of Raymond. Harris and Nicole divorced in 2007 but renewed their relationship last year. They have a 9-year-old daughter and a 3-month old son.

Nicole defended her ex-husband when he was first charged but she has issued no further public statements since she posted a defense of Chris on her MySpace page October 5.

Murder charges against Jason Harris were filed October 8.

The Harris brothers are being held without bond. Jason Harris' girlfriend, Jennifer Earnest, and her mother, Sara Duncan, are charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly giving police a false alibi for at least one of the Harris brothers.

Photo timeline of Gee family murders in Beason (click here)