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Explosives Found at Home of Virginia Gunman

Police get ready to head out into the woods of during a man hunt. (AP Photo)

Appomattox, Va. – A bomb squad discovered a multitude of explosives Wednesday at the home of a man accused of slaying eight people, including his sister and brother-in-law.

Christopher Bryan Speight, a 39-year-old security guard, surrendered at daybreak Wednesday at the home in rural central Virginia where seven bodies were found a day earlier. An eighth victim was found nearby, mortally wounded. All had been shot.

Speight had no weapons when he surrendered. He was wearing a bulletproof vest over a black fleece jacket, camouflage pants and muddy boots. Neither the sheriff nor a state police spokeswoman would disclose what Speight said when he gave up. He had eluded authorities for 18 hours before returning to the home.

Related: Photo Gallery of Manhunt for Virginia Killer

Late Wednesday, authorities said the dead included four adults, three teenagers and a 4-year-old. Speight was being held on one charge of first-degree murder, and more charges were expected.

Speight co-owned and lived in the home where most of the victims and the explosives were found. Bomb squads were detonating the explosives.

The two-story house has a big patio with furniture and a plastic basketball hoop. On Wednesday, the yard was landscaped and well-manicured, and there was a children’s bicycle outside.

Neighbor Monte W. Mays said that Speight’s mother deeded the house to Speight and his sister in 2006, shortly before she died.

His mother’s obituary listed the daughter as Lauralee Sipe and her husband as Dewayne Sipe.

State police identified the Sipes, both 38, as two of the victims, along with Ronald Scruggs, 16; Emily Quarles, 15; Karen and Jonathan Quarles, both 43; Morgan Dobyns, 15; and Joshua Sipe, 4.

Police said Speight knew all the victims, but they did not discuss a motive. No court date has been set.

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