Murder Suspect Returned to Oklahoma

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An ex-convict accused of strangling his ex-girlfriend and her four young children is back in Oklahoma.

Joshua Steven Durcho, 25, was arrested in Texas following a car crash. He arrived at the Canadian County jail in El Reno around 2 a.m. this morning. Durcho was to appear in court later that day.

Durcho waived his extradition yesterday during a brief court hearing in Hamilton County, where he was taken into custody Tuesday night after the vehicle struck a guardrail and tree.

Prosecutors in Oklahoma charged Durcho with five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 25-year-old Summer Garas; 7-year-old Kirsten Rust; 6-year-old Autumn Rust; 4-year-old Teagin Rust and 3-year-old Evynn Garas.

She and the four children were found dead in their apartment Monday -- a day after Summer Garas told her mother she was breaking off her relationship with Durcho.

Investigators haven't determined a motive for the killings.

Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

An account has been set up to help pay for funeral costs. If you would like to donate, please send donations to:

Canadian State Bank
Attn: Summer Garas-Rust Family Trust Fund
220 S. Bickford Avenue
El Reno, OK 73036

Donations can also be made at the Lucky Star Casino.