SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – A Southern California man accused of a grisly double homicide has been shot and captured after his parents and the family dog were found decapitated earlier this week at a mobile home park in San Juan Capistrano, officials announced Wednesday.
On Tuesday at approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to the 32000 block of Alipaz Street in SJC regarding reports of a “domestic incident,” KTLA reported.
Responding deputies came across a “horrific scene” where two elderly victims had been decapitated along with their dog. The victims were subsequently identified as Antoinette Gerdvil, 79, and her husband, 77-year-old Ronald Gerdvil, the sheriff’s department confirmed in a news release.
Within minutes of the deputies discovering the gruesome crime scene, they received information that a “bloody man” was chasing a maintenance worker from the same San Juan Mobile Estates community where the brutal slayings occurred.
The suspect was identified as 41-year-old Joseph Gerdvil. He lived in the community with his parents and was seen covered in blood as he reportedly stole the maintenance worker’s golf cart, reported KTLA.
Deputies quickly located the bloodied suspect near a bike trail exit on Calle Arroyo where at least one deputy opened fire, striking the man.
“Sheriff’s personnel rendered aid to the suspect until the Orange County Fire Authority arrived and was able to transport him to a local hospital, where he is currently in stable condition,” OCSD said in the press statement.
Gerdvil remains hospitalized in critical, but stable condition, according to KTLA. He faces two counts of murder and will be booked when he’s medically cleared, authorities confirmed, while noting he will likely face additional charges and enhancements.
The sheriff’s department has not yet provided a motive for the gruesome killings.
