Live Oak — New details have emerged in the murder of three McAlpin residents as police continue their search for two men wanted for the crime.

A family spokeswoman held a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Suwannee County Jail, during which she held pictures of the victims, pleading for any information that could lead to the arrest of James Lindsey Howze, 38, and Lonnie Robert Munn, 47, both Suwannee County residents, for their alleged role in the “cold blooded murder.”

She also announced that relatives of the slain family are offering a $10,000 reward for the capture of all those involved.

“The family would like to thank everyone in Suwannee County and surrounding counties who have offered their prayers and support during our greatest time of need,” Marcia Riegel said during the press conference, breaking down toward the end. “The response of everyone in the area is a testament to the spirit of the community as well as the incredible loving character of Joe, Nancy and Angelo.”

The dead are Joseph Militello Jr., 57, Nancy L. Militello, 68 and Angelo Rosales, 32. Rosales, who shared the residence, was the Militellos’ nephew. The three were found shot to death in their 172nd Street home Thursday morning.

A third Suwannee County man, Keith Allen Hughes, 25, is in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the murders, Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron said. Hughes was arrested Friday. Cameron said it is not yet clear if Hughes was present during the robbery and murders. Cameron said Hughes is a former employee of the family.

“He said he had worked on their farm,” Cameron said Friday.

Cameron said it’s believed the three were preparing to sit down to dinner Wednesday evening when the intruders broke in. Cameron said the bodies were found Thursday morning around 7:30 by an employee of the family other than Riegel. The three victims, said Cameron, were found in one room in their 172nd Street home lying face down, side-by-side, each with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. Cameron said widespread press reports of the three being tied-up are false.

He said one gun was used in the murders but it isn’t yet known who pulled the trigger.

Cameron said money was the motive for the crime and said he believed “the murders and the robbery was planned.”

“We were told they always had thirty to forty thousand dollars in the house,” Cameron said after the press conference. “Do I think there was that much in the house, no. I don’t think there was that much in their at the time, I think there was a lot less.”

Cameron said he believes the three acted alone in the robbery and murders.

Riegel said she knew the family for about three years and worked as a personal assistant.

“They were like grandparents to my children,” she said.

She said she made appointments for the ailing Nancy Militello, who has been on dialysis for about two years and who required treatment three times a week. Angelo Rosales drove Nancy Militello to the doctor.

“That’s why he was living there with them,” Riegel said.

Riegel also served as bookkeeper for the Militello family businesses, which range from scrap metal, hay production and a used car business.

Riegel said she met Joseph Militello while working for an auction company. When Nancy Militello fell ill, and “it was getting hard for her to see,” she came to work for them. The Militellos moved to McAlpin from Tampa seven years ago to “escape the big city,” said Riegel.

Riegel said she had a special bond with Nancy Militello.

“Nancy was my best friend and now she’s gone,” she said.

Cameron said Howze and Munn may be driving a burgundy over silver, 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 regular cab, two wheel drive pickup truck, which is owned by Munn’s girlfriend. The truck has a covered bed, numerous stickers on the back window, and front end damage.

“We believe the Florida tag assigned to the truck, H039CW, has been removed and replaced with a different unknown tag,” according to a wanted poster. “They have told acquaintances they are going to Michigan or Ohio where they have family members, but they may have headed to the Tampa area where they are affiliated with the Black Pistons motorcycle gang.”

Cameron said authorities are also “searching up and down the eastern seaboard and they could quite possibly be located locally in this state still.”

Howze and Munn are each wanted on three counts of first degree murder, and one count each of home invasion while armed with a firearm; conspiracy to commit home invasion while armed with a firearm; and conspiracy to commit first degree murder while armed with a firearm.

Howze is described as 6’4”, 280 pounds with a shaved head, blue eyes. He has a tattoo of a Swastika on his inner right bicep and multiple other tattoos.

Munn is described as 5’9”, 165 pounds, brown hair, hazel eyes with multiple tattoos on his arms, legs, back and chest.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Howze and Munn, you are asked to contact the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office at 386-362-2222 or Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Tommy Roper at 1-800-226-5630.

Services for the three will be held locally at Daniels Funeral Home on US 129 North, Thursday at 3 p.m. A separate service and burial will be held in Dade City on Friday.