Husband shoots dead his wife and 2 children, then gets high at a motel with girlfriend

An Alabama man suspected of shooting dead his wife and three children has been charged with murder as police continued looking for him Wednesday.

New details also emerged today about Steven Hutcheson's activities following his family's slayings, namely, how he allegedly met up with his mistress for a cocaine-fueled sex romp.

The bodies of Hutcheson's wife, Doris Jean Hutcheson, 49; daughter Kimberly, 14; and son Peyton, 12, were discovered Sunday evening in their McCalla home after two worried relatives came to search the house after not hearing from the family all weekend.

The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office issued today four capital murder warrants for Mr Hutcheson, who remains at large.

The additional count stems from the fact that the homicides involved a child under the age of 14.

Niece Shelby Barnhill said the last time anyone in the family saw the Hutchesons was last Friday, when they all went swimming at their grandmother's house.

However, that evening, Steve and Doris were supposed to bring groceries to his father's house and never showed up. 

When they didn't hear back from the family all weekend, Barnhill and a cousin went to search the family's house on Coleman Lake Road. 

The cousin gained access to the basement through a window, but was told to leave the crime scene by investigators when he found a bullet. 

When authorities broke into the house, they found the bodies of Doris and Kimberly Hutcheson in their respective beds, and Peyton Hutcheson on the couch. 

Mrs Hutcheson and her daughter were shot twice in the head as they slept. Her son was shot twice the face and once in the neck. 

Officials say after slaughtering his entire family, the husband and father went to meet his girlfriend, who is also married.

The 47-year-old man showed up in a nearby parking lot shirtless and still armed with the suspected murder weapon.

The couple drove around swigging beer and allegedly bought cocaine three times before checking into the Motel 6 in Bessemer. Sometime on Saturday or Sunday, Hutcheson took off in his own car.

District Attorney Bill Veitch said that in order to avoid detection for as long as possible, Hutcheson sent a text message to his wife’s sister from the dead woman’s cellphone that read, ’I’m going to the beach.’

Police later interviewed the suspect’s mistress who pleaded ignorance about the murders. She told investigators that Hutcheson kept wanting to drive by his house. When she pointed out to him that his wife might see them, the man reassured her that will not happen. 

The suspect's paramour has not been charged with any crime in connection to the case.  

Since the three bodies were found, authorities and family members have been desperately trying to get in touch with Steve Hutcheson, but his cell phone keeps going to voicemail.

The family's car, a silver Dodge Stratus with a license plate of 1AS7156, was also missing. 

A nationwide alert has been issued for Hutcheson, and Sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian said once he is captured, he will be jailed without bond. 

'We will find him and we will help him keep his appointment with Hell,' Christian said.'That can't happen soon enough.'

According to Shelby County Schools spokesman Cindy Warner, Hutcheson had been working as a roofing foreman for the schools for the past 15 years.