Dad strangles his 7-year-old son in murder-suicide: cops
A California father has strangled his 7-year-old before taking his own life in a similar manner as part of a murder-suicide, according to authorities.
Blaine Paddock was found unresponsive alongside his young son, whose name has not been released, at their home in the affluent Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks on Tuesday evening, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities said just before 7 p.m., a 911 call came in from a man reporting a possible suicide at a home in the 2300 block of Chiquita Lane.
Deputies found both Paddock and his young son unresponsive inside the residence.
The father was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. His child was taken to Los Robles Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted autopsies on the father and son, and determined that the child’s cause of death was strangulation.
Paddock died from ligature strangulation, a term typically used to describe a hanging. His manner of death is ruled a suicide.
Detectives with the sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at Paddock’s home. They did not say what they found, or whether the father had left a suicide note.
Investigators said they do not believe there are any additional suspects related to the murder-suicide.
There was no immediate word on a possible motive.
