Father-son deaths in Thousand Oaks deemed murder-suicide; authorities ID father
A father and son died Tuesday night after a report of a possible suicide in a Thousand Oaks townhome, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
By Wednesday evening, authorities identified the father as Blaine Paddock, 43. His death was deemed a suicide by strangulation, using a cord or something similar, sheriff's officials said. Paddock's 7-year-old son's death was ruled a homicide by strangulation. No name was provided for the boy.
The Thousand Oaks police responded to the call Tuesday around 7 p.m. at the Oak Grove Villas in the 2300 block of Chiquita Lane. The city of Thousand Oaks contracts its police services with the sheriff's office. Ventura County Fire also responded to the scene.
Police and fire personnel found Paddock, who was non-responsive, and his son who has unconscious and unresponsive, according to sheriff's Capt. Dean Worthy, a spokesman for the agency. Paddock was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.
Worthy said the boy was transported to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks where he was later pronounced dead. The sheriff's major crimes investigators determined the two were father and son.
"The deaths are suspicious in nature, and we have not ruled out the possibility of homicide," he said Tuesday night.
By Wednesday evening, officials ruled the deaths a murder-suicide.
Sheriff's Capt. Greg Gibson earlier in the Tuesday evening said there was no ongoing threat to the community.
Shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's officials said they still could offer little more information about the incident.
Sgt. Rob Yoos, another agency spokesman, said sheriff's investigators were working with the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office to determine details of the deaths.
Yoos said they needed the time to perform two autopsies and to compare the information against evidence collected at the scene and information from witnesses.
"Unfortunately, this is one that takes a little more time," he said.
Authorities responded to a fatal shooting around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday about 1 mile away in front of a Thousand Oaks fire station. Major crimes investigators also went out to the incident, but Gibson said the two events were not related.
If you're feeling despondent, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for both English and Spanish speakers, can be reached by calling 988 or 1-800-273-8255 or can be found on the web at 988lifeline.org.
Stacie N. Galang is news director at the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at stacie.galang@vcstar.com or 805-437-0222.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Father-son deaths in Thousand Oaks deemed murder-suicide
