Updated at 4:17 p.m., ET: SPOKANE, Wash. -- Authorities in eastern Washington say they have found the body of a 22-year-old fugitive being sought in the killings of a woman and her two young sons.

The body of Dustin W. Gilman was discovered Monday morning in the Wandermere area north of Spokane, The Spokesman-Review reported.  Authorities did not say how Gilman died.

Police say Gilman was wanted in connection with Friday's killing of 32-year-old Tracy Ann Ader and her 8- and 10-year-old sons at their home, where Gilman had been staying as a family friend.

Tracy Ader's husband was in the hospital at the time with a medical condition.

Police say Gilman took off in Ader's 2007 Nissan Pathfinder, which was found Sunday afternoon at a convenience store parking lot in Spokane.

According to the Spokesman-Review, the vehicle was located a few blocks from the home of Gilman’s father, Larry Gilman. Police said a search of the senior Gilman’s residence came up empty.

Larry Gilman said he had been in contact with this son on Saturday. He told investigators that he’d spoken to his son on the telephone and heard a gunshot, according to the Spokesman-Review. Larry Gilman said he believed his son had killed himself.

Police responding to a 911 call about a dead body in a home found three bodies instead.

Dustin Gilman had been living with the Aders at their home for several months, sharing holidays and caring for the boys, the Spokesman-Review reported.

“They were just the sweetest boys ever,” Melody Ponsness, Tracy Ader’s cousin, told the Spokesman-Review. “They always gave you a hug before you had to go back home. It’s hard to find words. It’s just so shocking.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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MADISON, Wis. – One Wisconsin man’s idea of a test drive didn’t sit well with a Madison dealer after the 47-year-old motorist took the car on a 150-mile trip around Milwaukee – and didn’t bring it back, police said on Thursday.

“The driver maintained that ‘You just don't take it for a 15-minute test drive’,” Madison Police Officer Howard Payne said. “In my opinion, his explanation was not reasonable … because he did not bring it back.”

Madison police arrested Robert E. Clark on a charge of operating a motor vehicle with consent of owner on Dec. 30, Payne said.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel was first to report the story

The dealer, A to Z Auto in Madison, called police after the man failed to return the silver 2000 Nissan Altima he picked for a test drive, Payne said.

What happened in this case was the dealer was interrupted by customers and was unable to accompany Clark on the drive, Payne said.

“From our standpoint, we don’t get involved in an agreement with two parties,” Payne said. “But off course, this person did not have consent to do what he did.”

Police said Clark drove the car to Milwaukee and returned to his home and not the dealership, both in Madison. His "test" drive was about 150 miles, Payne said.

Clark told officers that he took the Nissan to Milwaukee to secure funds to actually pay for the car, and did have every intention of returning the vehicle the following day, according to the police report released Thursday.

But, police got to him first and spotted the Nissan parked outside his home.

Telephone messages left by msnbc.com at the dealership were not returned Thursday. Two phone listings for Clark had been disconnected; he could not be reached for comment.

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