Headless couple, dog found in 'horrific scene' in San Juan Capistrano, deputies say
The adult son of two San Juan Capistrano residents mutilated them and their dog Tuesday, according to Orange County investigators.
Investigators described coming upon "a horrific scene which included the decapitated and mutilated bodies" of a man and woman "as well as a decapitated dog belonging to the married couple."
Joseph Brandon Gerdvil, 41, of San Juan Capistrano was arrested on suspicion of killing his parents, 77-year-old Ronald Walter Gerdvil and 79-year-old Antoinette Gerdvil, according to a post on X by the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Officers responded to a 7:36 a.m. report of a domestic assault in the 32000 block of Alipaz Street, where they found the bodies, Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Parrish said Tuesday.
Investigators allege that Gerdvil, covered in blood, fled the home after the homicides Tuesday morning, stole a golf cart and chased a maintenance worker in the mobile-home community. A community services officer spotted Gerdvil, leading deputies to him, the department said.
Read more: 'Bloody' suspect shot by Orange County deputy after 2 people, dog found dead in San Juan Capistrano
According to the department, a deputy saw Gerdvil leaving a bike trail near Calle Arroyo and shot him multiple times. Gerdvil was treated on scene until the Orange County Fire Authority arrived, deputies said. He was taken to a hospital, where deputies said he was in critical but stable condition Tuesday afternoon.
The department said in a statement that no deputies were injured in the incident, but it gave no explanation for what prompted the deputy to shoot Gerdvil.
Deputies in San Juan Capistrano have body-worn cameras, and video from the incident will be released "in accordance with the law and in consultation with the Orange County District Attorney's Office," the department said. State law requires video of police-involved shootings to be released within 45 days in most cases.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
