California Doctor and Wife Killed by Their Son, Who Then Committed Suicide

Important Details

On Sunday, November 30, authorities responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in Simi Valley, California. The victims, Dr. Eric Cordes, aged 63, and his wife Vicki Cordes, aged 66, were discovered lying in the driveway of their home, both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The police later confirmed that the couple had been shot in their garage, and were transported to a nearby hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries.

Hours after the incident, police in Chino discovered the body of a man inside a burning vehicle. The individual, later identified as 37-year-old Keith Cordes from Kentucky, had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities confirmed that the remains found in the car were those of Keith Cordes, and a firearm discovered nearby is believed to be the same weapon used in the earlier shooting of his parents.

The police investigation indicated that the suspect, Keith Cordes, fatally shot his father and stepmother before turning the gun on himself. The tragic sequence of events began just after noon, with police identifying a black sedan seen fleeing the scene after the shooting.

The San Bernardino County Medical Examiner's Office verified the identity of the deceased found in the car fire, and the firearm recovered near the scene of the fire is thought to have been used in the initial killings.

Dr. Eric Cordes' workplace, Adventist Health Simi Valley, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their longtime colleague. "The Adventist Health Simi Valley community is devastated by the tragic deaths of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Eric Cordes, and his wife, Vicki. Dr. Cordes was a dedicated and compassionate radiologist who served the community with distinction for almost three decades. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working with him," the hospital's statement read.

Keith Cordes, the alleged shooter, was reported to have been living in Kentucky at the time of the incident. Authorities are still working to determine the motive behind this heartbreaking tragedy. The police are continuing their investigation into the events surrounding the deaths of the Cordes family.

Author: Noah Whitman