A man facing allegations of decapitating his parents appeared drastically different in court on Friday, sporting a walker, a bulkier figure, and a full dark beard.
Joseph Brandon Gerdvil, aged 41, stands accused of the gruesome murders of his parents, Antoinette Gerdvil, 79, and Ronald Gerdvil, 77; their deaths left the San Juan Capistrano community in Orange County, California, in shock.
During a brief pre-trial hearing at the Superior Court of Orange County, he wore a bright green shirt and chains around his waist, using a walker for support following a police shooting incident.
Gerdvil’s appearance is a stark contrast from the selfies he would share on social media before the gruesome attacks.
His parent’s unimaginable murders occurred on the morning of July 9, when deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic assault call and found Gerdvil’s parents and their dog mutilated and decapitated.
Gerdvil was caught on police body camera footage only minutes later, covered in blood and chasing a maintenance worker nearby.
Deputies responded and found the suspected killer driving a golf cart covered in blood. He was shot by police and transported to a local hospital before he was booked into jail for the double homicide.
The gruesome footage revealed Gerdvil walking to the officer, covered in blood.
Joseph Brandon Gerdvil, 41, appeared in court on Friday with a walker and handcuffs chained around his waist for a pre-trial hearing
Gerdvil was charged with double homicide in connection with his parents’ gruesome murders last July
Police responded to the gruesome attack on the morning of July 9 to find Gerdvil’s parents’ heads decapitated and mutilated
The police officer screamed at the suspect to ‘get on the ground’ as he yelled incoherently.
As he lay on the ground, the deputy directed him to get on his stomach and put his arms out.
Graphic police body camera footage depicted the moment Gerdvil was shot by officers after he was seen driving a golf cart covered in blood
Officers then arrived on the scene, detained, and handcuffed Gerdvil, who was heard telling police, ‘I’m sorry you’re going to have to die.’
While deputies inspected the suspect for his wounds, he told them, ‘Just finish me off. Put one in my head. Put one in my head please. I beg of you.’
Gerdvil then began to sing Tina Turner’s hit song, What’s Love Got to Do with It as officers performed first aid.
The suspect was carrying a metal water meter when he charged at the officer. He was later reported to be stable but in serious condition at the hospital.
Gerdvil was living with his parents in a mobile home community before their gruesome deaths.
Authorities said they were tipped off to the deaths by a cousin, who allegedly received text messages depicting Gerdvil’s mother covered in blood.
Gerdvil allegedly killed and decapitated his parents and their dog in a California mobile home community
Police officers found Gerdvil driving a golf cart after his parents’ murders, and he was shot by an officer
Officers shared the gruesome body camera footage after the alleged murders, which showed the moment Gerdvil was detained by cops
The cousin told dispatchers that Gerdvil suffered from mental health issues and had a history of violence.
One of the deputies who responded to the mobile home reported to a dispatcher that there was ‘a head on the counter.’
Gerdvil was arraigned for two murder charges two days after the shocking sequence of events.
He entered a plea of not guilty in December and is due back in court for another pre-trial hearing on September 19.
