REVEALED: Parents murdered along with their two young sons in their Virginia home were shot as they slept by 16-year-old killer

Chilling new details have emerged about the quadruple murder in Virginia that took the lives of a married couple and their two sons over the weekend, including how the parents were gunned down in their bed, while one of their children was killed in the hallway. 

Authorities in Kanawha County said a 16-year-old boy shot and killed Daniel Dale Long, 37, his wife Risa Mae Saunders, 39, and their sons Gage Ripley, 12, and Jameson Long, three, inside their home in Elkview on Sunday. 

Another member of the family, described as a 16-year-old male, was not in the home when the bodies were discovered, and he was found unharmed later in the day, according to the local sheriff's office. 

Family photos shared on social media suggest that Long and Saunders had three sons together. 

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On Sunday Daniel Dale Long, 37, his wife Risa Mae Saunders, 39, and their sons Gage Ripley, 12, and Jameson Long, three, were found dead in their Elkview home. A 16-year-old has been charged with their murders

Gage Ripley, 12, and Jameson Long, three, were tragically found dead along with their parents Sunday morning

By Sunday evening, authorities said a juvenile male was charged with four counts of murder and on Monday they confirmed the suspect was 16. He has not been named because he is a minor. 

Nathan Gandee, the Long family's neighbor, told local news outlets how on Sunday he encountered the children's grandfather, who told him that everyone was dead inside the house. 

Neighbor Nathan Gandee said the family's grandfather told him everyone was dead inside, including the parents who were found shot in their bed, and one of the children who was discovered dead in a puddle of blood in the hallway  

'He said that the parents were in bed. The father still had a CPAP (sleep apnea machine) on and the child was laying in the hallway in a puddle of blood,' Gandee told WSAZ. 

The neighbor called 911 but did not go inside the Longs' home. 

Speaking to WOWK-TV, he recounted how he approached the porch and saw his neighbors' Great Dane, Gemma. 

'When the dog came out there was blood all over her paws,' he said.  

Gandee said Long and Saunders' older son, Gage, excelled in archery and taught his own children to shoot a bow and arrow. 

Gage was a sixth-grader at Elkview Middle School, where Principal Missy Lovejoy released a statement mourning his death. 

'Gage was a hard worker. He was polite to adults and always willing to help,' Lovejoy wrote. 'He was an active member of our area’s Archery Programs. He was on Elk Elementary Center’s team and participated in Elkview Middle’s Archery Tournaments last year. 

'He really seemed to enjoy this and received recognition for his accomplishments as an archer. Teachers describe him as a beloved student and one that was willing to take charge.'

The family was found on Sunday morning around 10.40am by a relative who didn’t hear from them on Saturday and visited the Cemetery Hill Drive home in Elkview to check in 

The family was found on Sunday morning around 10.40am by a grandfather who didn’t hear from them on Saturday and visited the Cemetery Hill Drive home to check in.

He found the front door unlocked and the dead bodies inside and had a neighbor called the police.

Investigators say each victim appeared to have been shot with a firearm. 

Autopsies were conducted Monday and will determine the cause and time of death.  

On Monday the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office said autopsies have been conducted at the juvenile charged with four counts of murders was a 16-year-old male

Four members of the family of five were found dead in the home early Sunday. Cops are awaiting autopsy results for the exact cause and time of death. Daniel Long pictured holding his youngest child

Gage Ripleu Long was a sixth grade student and an accomplished archer (pictured showing off his trophy and medal)

Deputies said on Sunday they were unsure of exactly when the shooting unfolded.

A GoFundMe for the funeral costs of the family has raised more than $4,000 of its $30,000 goal.  

The page was set up by a cousin of Risa who wrote: 'We are raising money for burial costs for our family. My cousin, her husband and 2 children were found murdered in Elkview, WV today on 12/13/2020! Risa (the mom) was almost 40, Dan (the dad) was also almost 40, Gage was a 12 year old boy and Jameson was 3 years old!' 

'We determined immediately on the deputies’ arrival they were all deceased,' Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford said Sunday

Investigators pictured at the scene on Sunday afternoon. The four victims apparently died from gunshot wounds but the official cause of death is pending

'None had insurance and we are honestly not sure what to do! Please share if you can’t donate! Please pray for us as a family!' she added.

A man named Jon Truman shared a touching tribute to the Long family on Facebook on Monday writing: 'I will miss you guys so so much I will cherish the memories we had together.'

'When u left this world u took a piece of my heart. I love you guys wait for me in heaven as for I'll miss you guys like crazy and I'll sure as heck miss those boys,' he added.