Investigators launched new particulars Monday into the deadly taking pictures of a married couple gunned down Sunday at their Simi Valley residence. Although a suspect has not been recognized, police mentioned a burned car — and the charred stays of a person found hours later in Chino — seems to be related to the killings.
Witnesses reported seeing the taking pictures unfold on the residence at about midday Sunday, based on Simi Valley Police Sgt. Rick Morton. An unidentified gunman was seen opening hearth into the storage, the place officers found the our bodies of the 2 victims of their 60s later recognized as Eric and Vicki Cordes.
“At the moment, a black Honda Civic was seen fleeing the world,” Morton advised The Instances. “Between 2:30 and three p.m, we have been in a position to decide that the car was within the Chino space discovered absolutely engulfed with a topic close to it additionally burned.”
Morton mentioned investigators despatched to the scene confirmed via law-enforcement databases that the car was “the truth is, linked to our double murder right here in Simi Valley.” The person discovered close to the burning automotive was badly burned, he mentioned, and that incident is being investigated as a suspected suicide.
Police couldn’t instantly establish the person as a result of severity of his burns, however the San Bernardino County coroner is about to conduct an post-mortem Tuesday. Investigators additionally recovered a handgun close to the car and have been conducting ballistics assessments to verify that it was the weapon used within the slayings.
“I don’t know right now what caliber it was,” Morton mentioned, “and I don’t know if that handgun is expounded to our crime scene till additional investigation is accomplished.”
Though the motive stays unknown, Morton mentioned investigators believed there was no ongoing menace to the general public “as a result of situation of the topic that was situated in Chino.”
The male sufferer, Eric Cordes, was a longtime radiologist at Adventist Well being Simi Valley. Hospital leaders issued a press release Monday.
“The Adventist Well being Simi Valley neighborhood is heartbroken by the tragic deaths of our longtime colleague, Dr. Eric Cordes, and his spouse, Vicki,” mentioned Alice Issai, the hospital’s president. “Dr. Cordes was a extremely revered, board-certified radiologist and beloved doctor who served this neighborhood with compassion and excellence for practically 30 years. Our hearts are together with his household, mates, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him as we grieve this stunning loss.”
Morton mentioned the assault was not gang-related or the results of home violence, and that no different residents have been inside the house when the taking pictures occurred. Police have discovered no historical past of home calls or restraining orders involving the couple.
As a substitute, detectives consider the Simi Valley victims have been “focused” primarily based on investigative leads and details about the couple and the car on the scene. Morton declined to verify hypothesis that the suspect was a member of the family.
The killings occurred in a quiet residential neighborhood in southwest Simi Valley. Morton famous that the town averages roughly one murder a yr. The neighborhood “ may be very shocked,” he mentioned.
“In Simi Valley, typically, issues like this don’t occur,” Morton mentioned.
Simi Valley police mentioned the investigation was ongoing with help from the Chino Police Division.
