New and unsettling details have come to light regarding the murder of a doctor and his wife in Simi Valley. Neighbors revealed to the Post that the couple’s son planned an ambush from their garage.
On Wednesday, witnesses reported seeing Ketty Cordes driving a black Honda Civic as she waited for an opportunity to strike at the home.
“He practiced a drive-by around 11:25 a.m., then staked out from a nearby cul-de-sac,” said Mike Hilton, who resides just five houses down from where the tragic events unfolded.
“At 12:01, he must have been waiting for the garage door to open, and that was his moment,” Hilton recalled.
Hilton’s son heard gunfire and saw a vehicle speed away. When he rushed over, he found Dr. Eric Cordes, 63, and Vicki Schiller, 66, both shot multiple times in their garage.
“Cordes had been shot in the neck and head, kind of hanging from the door frame of the Maserati,” Hilton shared.
Meanwhile, Ms. Schiller lay on the ground nearby, “with wounds all over her body,” he added.
“I witnessed them die,” Hilton said, as neighbors gathered around while police and paramedics attempted to save the couple.
As police arrived, they tried to resuscitate Eric. “They administered drugs to revive him and attempted CPR, but it was too late,” said Hilton.
“He died almost immediately. She might have survived a little longer,” he noted.
Less than three hours later, authorities discovered the suspect’s black Honda Civic 110 miles away in Chino’s Ayala Park. The vehicle was set ablaze, and the bodies inside were severely burned, leaving identification unconfirmed.
It is believed that the shooter is Cordes’ son, who lived in Kentucky. “There was a financial dispute, and it escalated into a threat he followed through on,” Hilton shared.
Outside the garage, a red stain, likely blood, marked the sidewalk, where a small wake was held with candles and flowers left behind.
“They were incredibly loving and respected by everyone in the community,” Hilton recalled, mentioning shared camping trips and neighborhood block parties.
“We’d go camping in the desert together, had RVs, and enjoyed little block parties,” he reminisced.
Although police have yet to disclose the suspect’s name or motive, they assured the community that the incident appears targeted, and there is no ongoing threat.
