Fresh mystery over nightmare case of family-of-five tortured by masked intruders with hot knives and forks

The investigation into a traumatizing home invasion where a family was tortured with searing hot knives has taken a new turn as cops revealed a new arrest is imminent.

Maricela Morales, her husband Arturo Torres, their three children and a friend of their daughter’s were attacked by a gang of masked intruders at their home in Harnett County on Father’s Day weekend in June.

The ordeal began at around 2am on Saturday, June 15, when the family were in their garage with the door open. They were bound with duct tape, held at knife-point and tortured in what cops later called the most horrific scenes they had ever encountered.

Three suspects were arrested in October but authorities now believe a fourth person may have been involved.

‘We are in the process of filing charges on one other suspect and should have warrants before Christmas,’ Captain Joseph Webb of the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office told the DailyMail.com. 

Despite the new lead, Webb admitted that the authorities ‘still have several unanswered questions’.

‘I cannot say what the motive is,’ he added.

The three suspects already in custody are Christopher Jamal Richardson, 22, Isaiah Rashun Speed, 25, and a 17-year-old juvenile.

All face charges including first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, possession of stolen property and assault with a deadly weapon.

When announcing the arrests in October, Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats described the attackers’ actions in gruesome detail. 

The intruders are believed to have staked out the home before storming in and launching their vicious assault. 

‘They put a knife and fork on top of the stove and heated it up and they just started sticking it to the body,’ Coats said. 

‘They were trying to get them to tell them where their money and guns were.’ 

Despite their efforts, the attackers reportedly found nothing of any value in the home 

After ransacking the property, they then fled the scene in two stolen vehicles – leaving the family injured and traumatized.

Sheriff Coats called the methods of torture ‘the worst’ he had seen in his career.

A GoFundMe campaign, organized by Morales’ sister, is seeking to support the family as they recover from the attack.

‘Words cannot describe the pain and devastation that our family is experiencing right now,’ the fundraiser read. 

‘My sister and her family unit are suffering physically, emotionally and mentally. Our extended family and close friends are devastated. 

‘Their home was vandalized and their peace of mind and safety will never feel the same.’ 

The incident shook the quiet North Carolina neighborhood, leaving residents on edge. 

Neighbor Jeffery Miller told WRAL he has since installed security cameras at his home.

‘I thought I was the security, but now I need to have a camera,’ Miller said, adding that he feels ‘so sorry for their family.’

As for Morales, Torres and their children, ‘they’re coping with it,’ Coats said.

‘This family was tortured so badly they’re never going to get over it. It’s something they’re going to have to live with a long time and these arrests hopefully will help them heal.’

Speed and Richardson’s cases are still pending, but Richardson has a disposition hearing scheduled for January 20. 

It is unclear if they have entered a plea at this time. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to the family for comment.