Wisconsin triple murder suspect in custody after manhunt

NEW LISBON, Wis. (FOX 9) - The Wisconsin man wanted in a triple murder of a woman and two young girls, who has been on the run for more than a week, has been arrested after a statewide manhunt.

Triple murder suspect arrested

What we know:

Authorities announced on Thursday that 47-year-old Virgil Thew had been taken into custody after being on the run since before the New Year.

The arrest was announced on Facebook by the Juneau County Sheriff's Office, with deputies promising an update later in the day.

Thew was found in the City of Elroy, 12 miles south of New Lisbon on Highway 80.

New Lisbon homicides

The backstory:

The bodies of Elizabeth Kolba and two girls, ages 12 and 13, were found on the evening of Dec. 30 at a home in New Lisbon.

The investigation started on the night of Dec. 29 with a missing child report in Monroe County, Wis. – which neighbors Juneau County to the east. New Lisbon is about seven miles from the Monroe County border and about 25 miles northwest of Wisconsin Dells along I-90.

Police determined the child was last seen with Thew, who lives in New Lisbon. Later, police learned of another girl who was reported missing in New Lisbon.

The investigation ultimately led authorities to a home on West Bridge Street in New Lisbon the following afternoon, where they discovered the bodies of both missing girls and a 33-year-old woman, later identified as Kolba.

In the week-plus that Thew was on the run, there were extensive searches, including efforts by the FBI and U.S. Marshal's Office to track down Thew.

What's next:

Thew has been charged with three counts of first-degree homicide for the slayings. The criminal complaint says all three victims had been shot.