With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Father, Step-Mother Of Former NASCAR Driver Found Dead In His Home
Robby Gordon in Argentina for a rally. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
The bodies of Robert Gordon, 68, and Sharon Gordon, 57, were found Wednesday at an Orange home belonging to former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon, reports the L.A. Times. They were the father and step-mother, respectively, of Robby Gordon.
Detectives say that it appears that the two had died in a murder-suicide, reports CBS 2. An undisclosed weapon was found at the scene. The deaths remain under investigation, with an autopsy scheduled for Thursday.
Orange Police Lieutenant Fred Lopez told the Times that, on Wednesday, family members asked a neighbor to check on the couple because they couldn't be reached. The neighbor discovered the bodies upon entering the home in the 1400 block of North Kennymead Street and called police.
While Robby Gordon is listed as the property owner, it's not yet clear if he was living at the residence. LAist called the Orange Police Department but no one was immediately available for a comment.
Sponsor
Robby has no relation to NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.
NASCAR drivers took to Twitter to offer their condolences:
Praying for friends @RobbyGordon @BeccyGordon and the Gordon family during this difficult time. Hope they find strength and support. 🙏🏼
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 15, 2016
Thinking about your families @RobbyGordon @RyanHunterReay https://t.co/Eu20nZZtmo
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 15, 2016
My heart goes out to @BeccyGordon and @RobbyGordon today.... Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
— Casey Mears (@CJMearsGang) September 15, 2016
Update [6:05]: The AP reports that police determined Sharon Gordon was strangled by her husband Robert Gordon, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why on this Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why on this Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
