Two killed in double murder at Simi Valley home
On Nov. 30, two people, identified as Eric Cordes and Vicki Cordes, were shot and killed in their Simi Valley home. Investigations later discovered the suspect was Keith Cordes, Eric Cordes’ son and Vicki Cordes’ stepson. After reports of gunfire around noon, police found Eric Cordes, 63-years-old, and his wife, Vicki Cordes, 66 years-old, in their garage at 500 block of Hawks Bill Place with multiple gunshot wounds. Eric Cordes and Vicki Cordes were later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Following the response of Simi Valley police officers, witnesses stated that the suspect fled in a black sedan with out-of-state plates, and described the suspect as an approximately 30-year-old white male, wearing dark clothes and a hat. Using the FLOCK camera system and other investigative resources, the vehicle was found leaving Simi Valley and traveling southbound on the 210 Freeway using LPR cameras, according to Simi Valley police.
Keith Cordes, 37-year-old resident of Kentucky, was the registered owner of the vehicle. The vehicle was found to have entered the city of Chino and was parked near Ayala Park, where Simi Valley detectives learned that the vehicle had been reportedly set on fire, and the individual associated with it had fatally shot himself.
Due to the significant burns that the individual faced, initial identification was prevented, according to the news release. Two days later, on Dec. 2, the San Bernardino County Medical examiner confirmed that the individual in the car was Keith Cordes. The motive for this double murder remains under investigation.