St. Louis murder suspect could face death penalty in shooting deaths of girlfriend, her 2 kids and her mother

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (KTVI) -- The man charged with killing four members of the same St. Charles family appeared in court Monday afternoon.

Prosecutors say a St. Louis-area man charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend, her two young children and her mother could face the death penalty once the investigation is complete. Richard Darren Emery faces 15 felony counts that include murder, armed criminal action, and assault.

Emery is due back in court on January 8, 2019. He could face the death penalty.

Prosecutors allege Emery killed his girlfriend, 36-year-old Kate Kasten, her two children 8-year-old Zoe and 10-year-old Jonathan, and Kasten's 61-year-old mother, Jane. The family was killed just before midnight on Friday, December 28.

Police arrested Emery after he shot at police and carjacked another woman after stabbing her in the torso.

Emery exchanged gunfire with officers as he fled and was captured several hours later in a convenience store, covered in blood and wounded. Authorities said Emery, 46, abandoned his own pickup and tried unsuccessfully to steal a woman's car while on the run, attacking her as well.

Authorities described his attempt to steal another vehicle as a carjacking and said he stabbed the female driver seven times. They said her injuries were not life-threatening.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.