A Southern California man has been arrested for allegedly decapitating his elderly parents and the family dog, authorities said Wednesday.
The gruesome incident unfolded early Tuesday morning, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
Deputies responded to a report of a “domestic incident” in San Juan Capistrano just after 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. When they arrived at the residence, near the 32000 block of Alipaz St., they encountered a “horrific scene” that included the “decapitated and mutilated bodies” of two victims and a dog.
Authorities later identified the two victims as Antoinette Gerdvill, 79, and her husband, Ronald Gerdvill, 77. The dog was described by KCal News as the couple’s “pet chihuahua.”
A few minutes later, deputies received reports that a “bloody male” had stolen a golf cart from a maintenance worker and was driving the motorized vehicle near a bike trail exit.
Officials located the suspect, later identified as the victims’ 41-year-old son, Joseph Brandon Gerdvil, and tried to communicate with him.
A “deputy-involved shooting occurred” and the younger Gerdvil was wounded, OCSD Sgt. Matthew Parrish told reporters in a news conference Tuesday.
He was taken to a local hospital “in critical but stable condition,” officials said.
Gerdvill remained in the hospital in stable condition as of Wednesday night. Authorities said he’ll be transported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Jail as soon as he’s “medically cleared.”
He’ll initially be charged with two counts of homicide, though additional offenses and enhancements are “likely,” the sheriff’s office said.
