Vehicle of family of 4 slain along Florida's Turnpike found in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Authorities on Monday found the vehicle driven by a family of four before they were shot to death last week along Florida's Turnpike, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's

Monday, October 16th 2006, 11:35 am

By: News On 6

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Authorities on Monday found the vehicle driven by a family of four before they were shot to death last week along Florida's Turnpike, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office said.

The black Jeep Cherokee was spotted at about 8:45 a.m. in an industrial section of West Palm Beach, about 70 miles south of where the family was killed, said Sheriff Ken J. Mascara.

It was being towed to the sheriff's office in Fort Pierce to be processed for evidence.

Investigators believe the Jeep had been pulled to the side of the highway and that someone inside the vehicle shot the family and drove away sometime between 1:30 and 3 a.m. Friday.

Yessica Guerrero Escobedo, 25, was found clutching her two sons in an apparent effort to protect them. Her husband, Jose Luis Escobedo, who would have turned 29 on Saturday, was found nearby. The victims appeared to be lying down or kneeling when they were shot, Mascara said.

A motive for the shootings was not yet known. Authorities said the victims and the shooter may have known each other.