A California doctor and his wife were shot and killed in their driveway, and police now believe their own son was responsible. Eric Cordes, 63, worked as a radiologist, and his wife Vicky Cordes, 66, both died in Simi Valley.
According to Unilad, the Simi Valley Police Department said officers found the couple on Sunday, November 30, after getting reports of gunshots at their home. Both Eric and Vicky were taken to the hospital but died from their injuries. Police say this was a planned attack, not a random shooting.
Detectives discovered the black car that left the scene was registered to Keith Cordes, the 37-year-old son of Eric and stepson of Vicky. After the shooting, the gunman drove away in a black sedan with out-of-state license plates. Police used automatic license plate recognition software to find the vehicle driving south on the 210 Freeway.
The suspect fled but police tracked him down using technology
Different police departments worked together to track down the car. They found it abandoned and burned outside Ayala Park. Inside the destroyed vehicle, investigators found a dead body. The San Bernardino County Medical Examiner later confirmed it was Keith Cordes.
Police believe Keith set the car on fire before killing himself. Officers found a gun in the vehicle that matched the weapon used to shoot Eric and Vicky. This evidence makes Keith the main suspect in the case. Similar to how doctors uncovered disturbing details from a body, investigators carefully examined all evidence in this tragic case.
Dr. Cordes worked in the local area for almost 30 years. His death shocked his coworkers and neighbors. Adventist Health Simi Valley, where he worked, called him a dedicated radiologist who served the community “with compassion and excellence for nearly 30 years.” They said their hearts go out to his family during this terrible time.
Focus Medical Imaging, another place where Dr. Cordes worked, praised his commitment to the area. They called him “a brilliant, hardworking doctor, and a respected colleague” who spent his entire career serving Simi Valley and never left for other communities.
The community continues to process this shocking tragedy, which has left many people declaring how disturbing such violent incidents have become. Neighbor Mike Hylton said Dr. Cordes was the director of radiology at Adventist Health. His son heard the gunshots and saw a car speeding away from the house. Simi Valley Police are still investigating what led to the shooting.
Published: Dec 3, 2025 03:45 pm