25.3.11

Father tortured family before killing son, wounding wife, four kids, police say

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VIDEO HERE: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/father-tortured-family-before-killing-son-wounding-wife-four-kids-police-say.html

San Bernardino police detectives on Thursday continued to investigate a bloody crime scene at a Del Rosa neighborhood home where police say a father tortured his family before his killing 16-year-old son and wounding his wife and four other children.

The Wednesday morning attack was so bloody and vicious that investigators still were trying to determine what weapon, or weapons, were used.

"It wasn't apparent from just looking at the victims if there was a weapon used, or more than one type of weapon used," said Cindy Bachman, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Ian Roderiquez, 35, was arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and torture, she said.

The suspect's wife, 35-year-old Sujal, suffered severe injuries and, along with the four children, remained hospitalized, Bachman said.

"A neighbor about 9:15 [a.m.] called 911, saying that a male subject at a nearby residence was screaming for help," Bachman said.

When police arrived at the house in the 6600 block of Merito Avenue, they detained Roderiquez as he was leaving. Deputies then entered the home and found the victims, Bachman said.

Earlier reports described the attack as a stabbing, but detectives are still trying to determine how the injuries were inflicted, she said.

The teen boy killed was identified as Richard Roderiquez. The injured children were Jacob, 13; Gabriel, 12; Daniella, 10; and Yasmine, 8, officials said.

All of the injured children were expected to survive and will be placed in the custody of the county's children and family services agency when released from the hospital, Bachman said.