Home / Crime and Justice / Son Kills Radiologist Father and Stepmother in Brutal Attack
Son Kills Radiologist Father and Stepmother in Brutal Attack
4 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Son suspected of fatally shooting his radiologist father and stepmother.
- Suspect's vehicle was found burned; he died of a self-inflicted gunshot.
- Hospital mourns beloved physician Dr. Eric Cordes and his wife Vicki.
In Simi Valley, authorities are investigating a double homicide that left Dr. Eric Cordes, 63, a respected radiologist, and his wife Vicki, 66, dead in their home's garage. Detectives identified their son, 37-year-old Keith Cordes, who lived in Kentucky, as the suspected gunman. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and seeing a man matching the suspect's description, suggesting a possible premeditated attack.
Investigators used license-plate readers to track Keith Cordes's vehicle after it fled the scene. The car was later discovered burned in another city. Authorities found a man nearby, identified as Keith Cordes, who had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The firearm recovered at the scene is believed to be the murder weapon, pending further forensic analysis.
Dr. Cordes had a nearly 30-year career at Adventist Health Simi Valley, where he was remembered as a beloved and compassionate physician. A family-created GoFundMe described Vicki as a source of light and joy. The investigation continues as police review evidence and await forensic results to determine a motive.
