Fourth District Magistrate Theresa Gardunia, right, talks with attorney Isaiah L. Govia, who is representing Adam Dees, left, on a video screen, during Dees' arraignment at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, Thursday, March 12, 2015. Bond was set at $2 million for Adam Dees, who investigators say may be tied to the deaths of three people in a home in the Foothills of Boise. Dees is currently charged with three counts of grand theft, three counts of forgery and a single count of possessing a concealed weapon. (AP Photo/Idaho Statesman, Kyle Green)
The Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - There is no ongoing threat to the community following the arrest of a 22-year-old man connected to a triple killing, an Idaho sheriff says.
Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney gave few details in a statement Friday about the active investigation into the killing of an Arizona power company executive, his wife and their adult son but said a diamond engagement ring taken from the home where the killings occurred has been recovered.
Detectives for several days had been trying to connect the ring to Adam M. Dees of Nampa, and Raney had appealed to the public for anyone who had seen Dees with the ring to come forward. Raney said Dees had been trying to sell the ring.
"A few days ago, I could not confidently tell you not to be concerned about your safety," Raney said in the statement released Friday afternoon. "Today, I feel comfortable saying that you can sleep peacefully tonight."
Prosecutors at Dees' court appearance on Thursday said that when Dees was arrested on Wednesday he had credit cards belonging to one or more of the victims, used them at various stores and forged the names of the victims. Prosecutors said workers at the stores identified Dees.
Dees is not charged with murder. He's charged with three counts of grand theft, three counts of forgery and a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Prosecutors said a 9 mm handgun was found tucked into Dees' waistband, but they didn't disclose whether it was linked to the killings.
Dees remained in custody on Friday in the Ada County Jail on $2 million bail.
Dees' father, Steve Dees, told the Idaho Statesman that his son told his family he found the credit cards.
The victims found Tuesday in a home in the foothills outside Boise have been identified as 80-year-old Theodore M. Welp, 77-year-old Delores Elaine Welp and their son, 52-year-old Thomas P. Welp. No motive or cause of death was released.
The Welps formerly lived in Arizona, where Theodore Welp was the chief of Tucson Electric Power Co. in the 1980s. Some blamed him for the company's financial downfall.
The Arizona attorney general's office conducted an investigation into the financial dealings, but the probe did not result in charges.
The killings took place in what records say is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home on about 20 acres with a total value of about $800,000. Theodore and Elaine Welp owned the property, which also had horses and other buildings.
"No words can adequately express the grief and despair we are feeling," the Welp family said in a statement issued through the sheriff's office.
Adam Dees is pictured on a video screen during an arraignment at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho Thursday March 12, 2015. Bond was set at $2 million for Adam Dees, based upon his possible involvement in the murders of Theodore, Delores and Thomas Welp. Dees is currently charged with three counts of grand theft, three counts of forgery and a single count of possessing a concealed weapon. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Kyle Green)
The Associated Press
This image provided by the Welp family via the Ada County Sheriff's Office Thursday March 12, 2015 shows Theodore M. Welp, far left, Delores E. Welp in the black dress and Thomas P. Welp, second from the right, in a family snapshot. The others are unidentified. A judge set bail at $2 million on Thursday for an Idaho man who prosecutors said was arrested with credit cards linked to a former Arizona power company executive, his wife and their adult son who were found slain in a home in the foothills outside Boise. (AP Photo/Welp family via the Ada County Sheriff's Office)
The Associated Press
This undated booking photo provided by the Ada County Sheriff's Office shows Adam Dees. A judge set bail at $2 million on Thursday, March 12, 2015, for Dees who prosecutors said was arrested with credit cards linked to a former Arizona power company executive, his wife and their adult son who were found slain in a foothill home outside Boise, Idaho. Dees, of Nampa wore restraints but appeared relaxed during his appearance in Ada County Court via a video feed from jail. (AP Photo/Ada County Sheriff's Office)
The Associated Press
Adam Dees (right, in wheelchair) is pictured on a video screen during an arraignment at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho Thursday March 12, 2015. Bond was set at $2 million for Dees, based upon his possible involvement in the murders of Theodore, Delores and Thomas Welp. Dees is currently charged with three counts of grand theft, three counts of forgery and a single count of possessing a concealed weapon. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Kyle Green)
The Associated Press
An Ada County Sheriff's Office investigator, left, talks with a man who said his parents owned a home where Adam Dees, 22, lives in Nampa, Idaho, Thursday March 12, 2015. Dees is accused of grand theft and forgery, charges that investigators say are tied to the deaths of three people in a home in the Foothills of Boise, Idaho. Bail is set at $2 million for Dees, during his appearance Thursday in Ada County Court via video feed from jail. He's accused of grand theft and forgery but not murder. (AP Photo/Idaho Statesman, Kyle Green)
The Associated Press
An Ada County Sheriff's Office investigator exits a home where Adam Dees, 22, lives Thursday March 12, 2015, in Nampa, Idaho. Dees is accused of grand theft and forgery, charges that investigators say are tied to the deaths of three people in a home in the Foothills of Boise. Bail was set at $2 million for Dees, during his appearance Thursday in Ada County Court via video feed from jail. He's accused of grand theft and forgery but not murder. (AP Photo/Idaho Statesman, Kyle Green)
The Associated Press