- Joseph Gerdvil, 41, is accused of killing and decapitating his parents and their dog.
An elderly couple and their dog were allegedly decapitated by their own son, who police say fled the scene of their mobile home park in California covered in blood.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said they responded to a call around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a “domestic incident.”
When they arrived at the scene at the San Juan Mobile Estates community in San Juan Capistrano, investigators said they encountered a “horrific scene that included the decapitated and mutilated bodies” of an elderly man and woman “as well as a decapitated dog belonging to the married couple.”
Police have since identified the victims as Antoinette Gerdvil, 79, and her husband Ronald Gerdvil, 77.
They are believed to have been killed by their 41-year-old son, Joseph Gerdvil, who lived with his parents in the mobile home and was reportedly found covered in blood nearby.
Joseph Gerdvil, 41, is accused of killing and decapitating his parents, Antoinette, 79, and Ronald, 77, as well as their dog on Tuesday morning.
Investigators said they came across a “horrific scene that included the decapitated and mutilated bodies” of an elderly man and woman “as well as a decapitated dog belonging to the married couple.”
Officers said that just minutes after coming upon the gruesome scene, they received reports of a “bloody man” chasing a maintenance worker in the same mobile home community.
Police now allege Joseph stole the maintenance worker’s golf cart, before an unidentified officer located him near a bike trail and shot him multiple times.
He was treated at the scene until the Orange County Fire Authority arrived and transported him to a local hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition.
When he is released from the hospital, the sheriff’s office says the 41-year-old man will be charged with two counts of murder and will likely face additional charges and enhancements.
The motive for the brutal beheadings remains unclear and authorities have not given any explanation as to what prompted the officer to shoot Joseph.
Neighbors have described the family as friendly and quiet.
But neighbor David Desmond said he saw Joseph fighting with his father the day before.
He Described to Fox 11 how young Gerdvil appeared “angry” and “showed offence” when he confronted his father on Monday.
Another neighbor, Bob Demario, also claimed that Joseph “had a drug problem.”
“That’s why he lived there and why they had him there,” Demario said.
Online, Joseph made a series of unhinged posts about Jehovah’s Witnesses and posted dissonant music on YouTube, including one on Monday titled Shots Fired and another called Pope on a Rope, featuring an image of the Pope being hanged.
Others described the family as friendly and easy-going.
“The lady who lived there walked her dog all the time around the neighborhood,” Tammy Pavese said. “Everyone knew who she was.”
Victoria Alford also said Antoinette and Ronald were a “very sweet couple.”
“And at that age, to be tragically killed by your own child is just tragic, period,” he said.
